Port employee, businessman remanded over alleged smart key racket
A port employee and a businessman have been remanded over their alleged involvement in a racket involving the theft and sale of smart keys belonging to vehicles imported through the Hambantota International Port, police said.The two suspects were produced before the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court on September 11 and remanded until September 22, Hambantota Port Police said.Police said the investigation was launched following an extensive inquiry by the Hambantota Port Security Department into the disappearance of smart keys from vehicles imported through the port.During the investigation, suspicion fell on a port employee, who was taken into custody by port security personnel and handed over to the Hambantota Port Police for further questioning.
According to police, investigations by the Crime Investigation Bureau, conducted under the direction of the Hambantota Port Police OIC, and information obtained from the employee led investigators to a businessman in Kurunegala who had allegedly purchased the stolen smart keys.Police said the employee had allegedly sold the keys for prices starting from around Rs. 6,000, depending on the vehicle model.Investigators found that approximately 45 smart keys had allegedly been sold over several months, with the employee reportedly earning more than Rs. 1.5 million from the transactions, police said.Acting on information provided by the employee, police subsequently arrested the businessman in the Kurunegala area. He had allegedly admitted to purchasing the smart keys, while police recovered several of the keys in his possession.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that the alleged racket may have been operating since the commencement of domestic vehicle imports through the Hambantota International Port, police said.Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the alleged racket and identify any other individuals who may have been involve
Meanwhile, a Hambantota Port Security Department official said a special program was being implemented to strengthen measures to detect and prevent thefts within the port premises.
