A Hikkaduwa hotel owner who was arrested on charges of having swindling a Britisher of Rs.48 million after promising to get him several plots of land for cultivation was today ordered to be further remanded till July 15 by the Galle Additional Magistrate.
In his complaint to the CID, British national Richard Karshal a civil engineer by profession had told that he got to know the suspect when he was staying at the suspect’s tourist hotel in Hikkaduwa in 2004. The complainant further said that he built up a close relationship with the suspect and subsequently discussed to invest money at a land cultivation project. The complainant told police that though he had made a payment to purchase about 114 acres from Haldumulla area the suspect Saman Karunatilleka had only purchased a few acres with the money.
He further told police that he was compelled to invest money along with the suspect as he trusted him. He finally alleged that he had been cheated by the suspect to the tune of Rs.48 million.
When the suspect was produced before Galle Additional Magistrate Gunendra Munasinghe, he was ordered to be further remanded till July 15. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)
Hotel owner remanded for swindling Britisher