CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED MURDER OF WELLAWATTA BUSINESSMAN

Why police alone is suspected for murder of Wellawatta businessman?

    Wellawatta is a town full of facilities and amenities. Mohammed Shyam chose Wellawatta as his residence because of several reasons. He was born to an affluent family of millionaires. Shyam's relations are famous gem merchants. He had a large number of business friends as well as foreign businessman.

    Shyam chose as his main line of business the importing of parts of shoes, assembling them here and sending them to the international market on a large scale. It was a business which brought him great dividends. Because of his skill in business and dedication, he was able to go a long way in this field of business. His closest colleague in his business was one Mohammed Fowsdeen.

    Shyam chose a attractive partner for marriage. She too was a girl who matched the wealth of Shyam's family. Shyam's family life was a very pleasant one. Three sweet children were born to their family, adding value to the future business objectives of Shyam. He had bought a number of vehicles and he used to go about in a most luxurious modern vehicle. It was not once or twice that his business colleague would go about with Shyam.

    Exactly last Wednesday the 22nd, Shyam was travelling along Galle Road in the company of Fowsdeen on a special journey. The two of them stopped at a prominent hotel and discussed business dealings and a number of other matters while having their meals. They resumed their journey after that in their vehicle.

    When traffic blocks along Galle Road and the vehicles were moving in a row and the traffic gradually began to increase, their vehicle deviated and started travelling towards Nugegoda and when the vehicle came towards Kandewatta in Nugegoda, Fowsdeen began to answer a number of phone calls.

    This actually was a journey made for a requirement of Fowsdeen and not Shyam. An exchange of words began to ensue suddenly between the two when they reached a medical centre in Kandewatta.

    The vehicle then came to a halt. Both of them got off the vehicle and then immediately Fowsdeen got hold of Shyam's throat in a manner of threatening his life, using harsh words in the process. Just then Shyam was handed over to some individuals nearby. Even by then Shyam was unable to understand what was happening. The millionaire businessman's phones all went dead.

    However a CCTV camera hanging over the medical centre not knowing why Fowsdeen who shared meals a few minutes ago was upto, silently kept taping all this.

    Fowsdeen who thought that everything was over, was heaving a sigh of relief contemplating the next step he should take.

    Millionaire Shyam did not come home that night. Even his phones were inactive. Shyam's wife's heartbeat was skipping faster and faster every second. She conveyed the message to Shyam's relatives that he had not come home and also took steps to contact places where her husband used to go. It was in this manner that she spoke to Fowsdeen too.

    "Shyam was with me this afternoon .... but after that I don't know where he went. Wait .... I'll come quickly". Fowsdeen arrived at millionaire Shyam's home at 42nd Lane, Wellawatta as fast as lightning. By that time Fowsdeen had imagined the chaos taking place where Shyam's wife and relatives were concerned because he very well knew the tragedy that has already occured. Even from the moment he got down from the vehicle, he began acting his role most carefully.

    "Let's lodge an entry at the police". Shyam's wife and Fowsdeen then made a complaint at the Bambalapitiya police station, with tears in her eyes. Fowsdeen too began to make inquiries from Shyam's friends in a careful manner, all the while head down in sadness, but with a confused look. That night too Shyam did not come home. It was in this manner that Bambalapitiya police informed other police stations and commenced investigations.

    After the break of dawn on the 23rd, police were able to locate the luxury vehicle of Shyam abandoned in Kandewatta area and it was by searching everything from grassroot level that the police conducted a systematic operation. The Sri Lanka Police is now equipped with better strength than before. Technology too has helped them in their investigations. Since it was a case of a millionaire businessman, it did not take long for the news to reach even higher-ups of the police.

    Investigations into the incident was handed over to CID, Colombo and it was by basing their investigations on several aspects that the Director of the Colombo Criminal Division, Mr.R.L.Ranaweera together with a special team of officers began a sharp investigation on the orders of Senior DIG of Greater Colombo area, Mr.Anura Senanayaka.

    This special team of officers subjected the area in which the vehicle was located into scrutiny. The police also are well aware that criminals often leave some sort of evidence in any criminal act.

    The CCTV camera which was so far watching every moment of the incident was noticed by the police officers. This camera which was installed at the medical centre was then subjected to scrutiny. The incident where Fowsdeen had got hold of Shyam's neck and later how he was handed over to a group of people was very clearly depicted on tape.Thereby the most wanted suspect was found out.

    Mohammed Fowsdeen was taken into custody by the Colombo CID. It was after that, on questioning Fowsdeen that he had to reveal everything. "Sir ... though Shyam was with me, I don't know what happened". He finally admitted that Shyam was handed over to a group of individuals in Kottawa. It was well understood that there was no other exception other than to expose every secret. "Sir ... I took a loan of 30 lakhs from Shyam. But I had no way to repay it".

    Under these investigations it was revealed that an SI and 3 police constables functioning under DIG Vaas Gunawardene in charge of the North Western Province had abducted Shyam and had shot him at Dompe. IGP Mr.N.K.Ilangakoon immediately got into action and handed over the investigations to the CID. By that time, the SI and the 3 police constables were taken into custody. DIG Vaas Gunawardene too was summoned to the CID for questioning and was later released.

    In this way the 3 children of Shyam lost their father and his wife lost her husband's love forever. According to preliminary inquiries conducted so far, Shyam had been murdered on a contract given by his closest and most faithful colleague Fowsdeen in connivance with members of this special police team.

    The dead body of Shyam had been found in an isolated place in Dompe area and was labelled as an unidentified body in the mortuary of the Gampaha Base Hospital.

    Was Shyam murdered because of the loan taken by Fowsdeen? Or else is it for some other reason? Did the police who protect peace planned and committed this murder themselves? Police investigations are still underway.

    Shyam who led a successful life has been subjected to murder at an unexpected moment. If only he had thought that he was travelling with Fowsdeen for his requirement he may not have faced this tragedy. It has been found that Fowsdeen is someone who is suspected of involving in Undial (illegal monetary dealings). Undial is a system which is illegally in operation in Arabia. Information was uncovered at the investigations that Fowsdeen had been dealing with customers in those countries under the Undial scheme of sending money to clients overseas and in remitting money to Sri Lanka from overseas. This way he has amassed a large fortune.

    While investigations are being conducted, another black mark has been added to the SL Police. Five individuals including 3 police constables have been taken into custody by the CID under detention orders and are being questioned.

    The SI and the 4 police constables arrested were those affiliated to the Peliyagoda police. They are those who are in service in the Special Police Unit operating under DIG Mr.Vaas Gunawardene in charge of North-Western Province. DIG Mr.Vaas Gunawardene's name came into the limelight as a result of information divulged by Fowsdeen. It was this reason that he was summoned to the CID for questioning.

    Fowsdeen confessed to the CID that he had given the contract to murder Shyam to the policemen, He also said that he took such a decision because he was not in a position to pay back the loan he took from Shyam. However, the DIG and other police officers rejected this explanation.

    Somehow, some day truth will win. If a person committed a crime, he would have to face its consequences; the Universal Law is such!

Newspaper report -- Shiran Ranasingha, Hemantha Randunu (Divaina)