SLN officer suspected of extortion in Kalpity abduction

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 March 2008, 11:33 GMT]
Relatives of fisherman Joseph Arul Ananda Fernando, father of three children, who was abducted in Kalpity on 6 February, complained to the police of the alleged involvement of a Sri Lanka Navy officer in the abduction, sources said. Police brought to the notice of the high command of the Sri Lanka Navy the complaint, media sources said.

Kalpity police appeared before the HRCSL recently and brought to its notice that relatives of the victim had alleged the involvement of a navy officer in the abduction.

Meanwhile, Christopher Fernando a brother of the abducted fisherman made another complaint to the Kalpity police that he had paid Rs 142,000 to a person out of Rs.200,000 demanded as extortion to release his brother.

The complainant submitted the bank account number of the person and details of discussion he had with him over the telephone.

Media sources reported quoting a police officer that the name of the person who accepted money had been submitted to the SLN headquarters by the Kalpity police.