COLOMBO : A woman who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a fraud had reported to have amassed over Rs 2 billion from innocent businessmen in Sri Lanka,
Thilini Priyamali had been running her scam from her posh office at the World Trade Center till she was arrested and remanded by the court on Wednesday,Oct,5.
Investigations have revealed that this scam has been going on for a long time by scaring the investors that they will be videotaped and made public.She has used several actors and actresses as well as models for this purpose. The CID has succeeded in clearly identifying six of these individuals from among them.
Two of them are very popular actresses.Investigations have revealed that these actresses and models were paid between Rs 500,000 and Rs 1 million for talking about their personal lives and sex lives with these businessmen and associating them very closely.
Apart from businessmen, lawyers, monks, artistes and a politician have also been duped by this woman,” Criminal Investigation Department sources said. A top CID official said that it has been found out through investigations conducted up to now, that the estimated amount of the fraud carried out by this woman exceeds Rs.1000 million. The official said that some people have shown reluctance to complain for fear of being caught by the income tax department and some of those who have complained have cited their actual investments.
It has become apparent to the CID that a politician who invested a sum of Rs. 800 million with this woman has complained that it was only Rs.100 million.It is said that an artiste who had invested Rs 150 million as well as a powerful political figure is prepared to complain to the CID in the upcoming days.
The Criminal Investigation Department has been receiving phone calls from a large number of people who were caught in her fraud following her arrest.
A top CID official said that if they too lodged complaints against the woman, the value of fraud would definitely exceed Rs. 2000 million. The CID revealed information that this particular woman had been taken into custody on seven previous occasions in connection with such frauds.Prior to the CID arresting her on October 5, the Negombo Police too had taken her into custody in July this year.
She has also been arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police in 2017, and on two occasions in 2018 and once by the Mirihana Police. She had been arrested on all occasions for fraudulent money transactions. The CID has found that she is involved in money fraud as a profession and has used her beauty as a tool to get close to the elite and carry out her scam.
Indian actress.
Menawhile,Ex=President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office denied reports circulating on social media, linking the former president and his family members to the owner of Thico Group Private Ltd Thilini Priyamali who has been remanded over allegedly misappropriating large sums of money while operating a luxurious office at World Trade Center in Colombo.
Rajapaksa’s office in a statement said that the reports and pictures circulating on social media were false and baseless.
“A picture that has been circulated showing Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa attending a function which was also attended by Thilini Priyamali was taken in March last year when Mrs. Rajapaksa had attended the launch of a movie production and musical show,” the statement said.
The event which was also attended by senior politicians and artistes was held under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Film Corporation and an invitation had been extended to Mrs. Rajapaksa by the Film Corporation Chairman, the statement added.
“The Former President’s office catergorically denies of any links between Mrs. Rajapaksa or any of the Former President’s family members with Thilini Priyamali and condemns the actions of some individuals who are circulating the concerning picture, with ulterior motives,” the statement said.
Thilini Priyamali was yesterday ordered to be remanded till October 19 after being produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court over allegedly misappropriating Rs.226 million, USD 60,000, and Australian $100,000 while operating a luxurious office.
The CID alleged that the suspect had befriended several businessmen running their business operations adjacent to her office and had obtained money from businessmen by promising high returns.
