Chinese man who stole Russian doctor's handbag with $9,900 arrested in Katunayake

A Chinese national suspected of stealing US$ 9,900 from the hand luggage of a Russian national on a flight arriving in Sri Lanka from Abu Dhabi has been arrested by the Katunayake Airport Police. The suspect, who allegedly stole this amount of money worth over 3.1 million Sri Lankan Rupees, was apprehended by the police while he was staying at a casino in the Fort area of Colombo.

The victim in this incident is a chief immigration doctor belonging to the Russian Federation.

The theft occurred on board Etihad Airways flight EY-394, which landed in Katunayake around 3:00 AM on the 30th. Preliminary police investigations revealed that the suspect Chinese national stole the money from the Russian doctor's hand luggage, which was in the overhead compartment, while the doctor was asleep during the flight. After exiting Katunayake Airport, the doctor realized the money was missing from his bag and filed a complaint with the airport police around 4:00 AM on the same day.

Acting immediately on the complaint, police officers thoroughly examined the airport's security camera system. They observed that this individual, who was the only Chinese national arriving on the said flight, cleverly evaded security cameras, left the airport, and fled in a taxi. Subsequently, investigators were able to precisely identify the suspect's destination through the taxi service counter.

Accordingly, a police team immediately went to the relevant casino in the Fort area of Colombo and, after examining its security cameras, arrested the 49-year-old Chinese national. These further investigations were carried out under the direct instructions and supervision of Chief Police Inspector Elmo Malcolm Peate, the OIC of Katunayake Airport Police. The raid was conducted by Chief Police Inspector Jeevarathna, Police Inspector Madhusanka, Intelligence Officer Manjula, and Police Constables Wickramasinghe (102313) and Madhusanka (27167). The suspect was scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court on the 1st.