Using the magistrate's name, someone ate and drank at a luxury hotel and defaulted on a bill of one hundred thousand.

Weyangoda Police state that four individuals, including a person who allegedly posed as a magistrate, rented a room and stayed at a luxury hotel in Naiwala, Weyangoda, consumed food and beverages worth Rs. 89,000, and attempted to flee without paying, were arrested yesterday (29) morning. The arrests were made based on information received from a police officer of the State Intelligence Service.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that an individual residing in the Kolombageara area of Embilipitiya, posing as a magistrate, arrived at the hotel with two others in a motor vehicle on the afternoon of the 27th and obtained a room for two days. While staying there, the group consumed alcohol and food and attempted to flee without paying the bill of Rs. 89,000.

They had reserved the room for two days, claiming to be attending a workshop at the Mahara Magistrate's Court. Based on information received by a police officer from the Attanagalla State Intelligence Service, a police team led by the Weyangoda Chief Police Inspector raided the hotel and arrested the four suspects.

When they attempted to flee by parking their vehicle inside the hotel and calling a hired vehicle, the hotel management became suspicious and informed the State Intelligence officer. Investigations revealed that the vehicle the suspects arrived in was obtained from a rental service, and the person who posed as a magistrate was involved in 18 different crimes across the island.

Police state that one of the other three arrested individuals was a resident of Kahawatta, who posed as the security guard of the main suspect. Another was the driver of the vehicle they arrived in, a resident of Unakooruwa. The fourth person was the driver of the hired vehicle called for their escape, a resident of Marawila.

As information has been received that they have traveled across the country committing various crimes and frauds, a team of police officers led by Weyangoda Police Station OIC Chief Police Inspector Asanka Rangana is conducting further investigations. After the investigations are concluded, the suspects are to be produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate's Court.