The Welikada Police informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nuwan Kaushalya today (15) that investigations have revealed that the 120 suspects from nine countries, including China, who were arrested in the Rajagiriya area over financial and cybercrime offences and remanded in custody, had allegedly hacked bank accounts belonging to banks in California and Saudi Arabia while operating from Sri Lanka.

Police stated that these facts were uncovered following investigations conducted by the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) into three computers seized from the suspects at the time of arrest. Further investigations are continuing into additional case materials, including 151 computers, 51 laptop computers, and 266 smartphones that were also taken into custody.The police requested that the suspects be further remanded as investigations have not yet been completed.

After considering the submissions made by the police, the Additional Magistrate issued notices to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration and a representative to appear before court and make submissions regarding 28 of the foreign suspects who were allegedly residing in the country without valid visas.These notices were issued when the complaint against the 120 foreign nationals was taken up before court. The suspects had previously been remanded after being arrested on the 2nd while allegedly engaging in online financial fraud operations under heavy security at a seven-storey apartment complex located on Meda Welikada Road, Rajagiriya. During the raid, police also seized cash and computer equipment worth nearly Rs. 150 million.

At the hearing, the foreign suspects, identified as citizens of countries including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia, were produced before court via Zoom technology.Having considered the facts presented, the Additional Magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded until the 22nd.

The Welikada Police had arrested the relevant suspects while they were staying at a seven-storey building located at No. 106, Meda Welikada Watta Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya.