Sri Lankan arrested at BIA for US bank hack

Sri Lankan arrested at BIA for involvement in US bank hack

by Zulfick Farzan 03-05-2021 | 12:40 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department arrested a Trincomalee resident at the Bandaranaike International Airport for his connection to international money fraud.

The suspect was identified as Annameri Thasan of Thawanasakulam, Kinniya in Trincomalee. Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana speaking to News 1st said the suspect was proceeding to Dubai on Saturday (01) and was arrested based on a travel ban that was imposed. Investigations revealed that an account under the suspects' name received Rs. 26 million from the United States of America. The US sender had hacked into the bank accounts of US nationals and transferred the money to the Sri Lankan account. "The money is withdrawn from the account and the account holder retains a commission while the rest of the money is sent to the sender in the United States of America," said DIG Ajith Rohana. A complaint about the transactions was made to the authorities by the private bank, he said adding a total of Rs. 1,440 million was sent to the bank from the United States of America and the money was withdrawn by several individuals.