The story of Yagirala Temple's super car secretly sold to Kandy.

The Horana Special Crime Investigation Unit recently launched a comprehensive investigation following a complaint that a luxury 'Premier' type motor car belonging to a famous temple in the Raigama area, Millaniya police division, along with a monk residing at the temple and temple documents, had gone missing. This investigation was initiated based on a complaint made by another monk residing at the same temple. A team led by Chief Police Inspector Dhammika Nawaratne, the OIC of that unit, carried out this investigation under the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police Nishan de Silva, who is in charge of the Panadura Division.

Despite investigating the complaint, officers were unable to locate the monk who had been residing at the temple. However, during the continuous investigation, the investigating officers received some information.

''Sir, that car that was reported missing was apprehended by Matugama Police two days ago.''

The OIC investigated the information received. He realized that the information was true. He contacted officers at the Matugama Police and summoned an officer who had inspected the reportedly missing vehicle, recording a statement from him.

“Sir. That day, we stopped that car on suspicion. There were two people in the car. The driver and that person were very drunk, and also

there was a young man, one person had short hair like a monk, and there was also a robe in the car's trunk. We questioned everyone. They were produced in court. Later, they were released on bail and had gone." The OIC further questioned the officer for details, and next, he wanted to know who had released and taken the motor vehicle. It was later revealed to the OIC that a person, said to be a three-wheeler driver, had released this car, which was under court custody, and taken it away.

Later, the officers went in search of the said three-wheeler driver. Apprehending him was not very difficult. The officers questioned him.

“Sir, I know a monk from that temple. That monk called me and told me about the incident. Afterwards, I went to court, gave my ID and driving license, and took custody of the vehicle. I also paid a fine of sixty thousand rupees. Later, when I was bringing the car, the person who had abandoned the robes pushed me out of the vehicle and drove away with the girl.”

Although the officer questioned him further, the motor car and the suspect monk who took it could not be found. Subsequently, the officers' attention turned to the monk at the temple who had informed the three-wheeler driver about the incident. The officers summoned that monk to the police unit. Interrogation then began.

"Sir, I don't know many details. There was a death of a relative of that girl. The girl lives in Hadigalla, I think she might have gone there...

The officers went to Baduraliya, Hadigalla, based on the information received. However, no one was there. Later, during questioning of the young woman's parents, it was revealed that their daughter was with the suspect in a house in Neluwa, Opatha area. The officers went to Opatha with them. Both the young woman and the suspect monk were at the house.

Later, during questioning, it was revealed that the Premier vehicle, which was received duty-free by the deceased senior Professor monk of the Raigama temple, had been sold to a doctor in the Kandy area for ten million rupees. Investigating officers stated that with the money obtained from this sale, the suspect had purchased a luxury house in the Neluwa, Opatha area. This transaction took place in the Piliyandala area, and the suspect monk's brother-in-law was also involved, with the money being credited to his account, officers said. Officers state that 5.7 million rupees from that amount was used to purchase the house in Neluwa, Opatha, in the brother-in-law's name. Investigating officers state that at the time of the suspect monk's arrest, he had discarded his robes. A statement was also recorded from the suspect's girlfriend, and she was handed over to her parents.

However, the doctor who purchased the motor car had also failed in an attempt to obtain a leasing amount for the vehicle. Subsequently, after an investigation conducted by officers using the doctor's phone number, the officers were able to take the said motor car into their custody. In connection with the incident, the suspect monk, the driver who had discarded his robes, the suspect's brother-in-law, and another monk have been arrested and remanded after being produced before the Horana Magistrate's Court. (Keerthi Mendis)