Police have found a stock of turmeric and dried fish claimed to be stolen by a group of Police officers, concealed at a residence.
Police said the driver who allegedly stole the stock of turmeric and dried fish and another individual who aided the theft have been arrested.
A businessman from Giriulla had lodged a complaint with the Assistant Superintendent of Police of Chilaw stating a group of Police officers had stolen 500kg of dried fish and 800kg of turmeric belonging to him, while being transported from Kalpitiya in a lorry.
In his complaint the businessman said a group of Police officers who arrived in a jeep had seized the goods on the 26th of August at the Chilaw-Deduru Oya checkpoint and taken the stock along with the lorry to the Chilaw Police Station, following which it was taken to Mundalama.
The businessman further stated the Police officers had transferred the stock to another lorry and released his driver and lorry.
A special investigation was launched into the incident under the supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police of Chilaw.
Following inspection of CCTV footage, it was revealed that the lorry had not taken that route on that day.
Police said 565kg of turmeric and 404kg of dried fish were found concealed in a house in Norochcholai, based on information provided by the driver after he was arrested over the incident.
The two arrested individuals and the stock of turmeric and dried fish will be produced before the Chilaw Magistrate’s Court.
