Had been arrested for several times similar offences earlier
Law & Order
Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe
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Four people, including an Ayurvedic doctor, were arrested by the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department of Matara Police on Saturday, with a Buddha statue and a chaitya studded with gemstones, which are said to be ancient artefacts excavated from a treasure.
The police said they were planning to sell them for 25 million rupees.
According to information received by an army intelligence officer, the arrest was made at Matara Navimana.
The Ayurvedic doctor and the suspects were traveling in a car when they were arrested. Police said that the Buddha statue found with the suspects was 14 feet tall and studded with four gemstones.
The Ayurvedic doctor who was arrested along with this Chaitya and the Buddha statue is a resident of Yatigama area. Police say that the rest of the suspects are residents of Katana, Sippukulam and Padukka.
Investigations have also revealed that these suspects have been arrested by the police on several occasions in connection with treasure hunts.
Monday, May 1, 2023 – 01:00
