ECONOMYNEXT – A woman arrested on charges of cheating had lured high profile victims by offering US dollars at below market rates and used blackmail to silence them, investigators said.
The suspect identified as Thilini Priyamali had been running a lucrative operation from about early 2019 offering US currency at 140 rupees when the bank commercial selling rate was 40 rupees more at 180 rupees.
A former minister is alleged to have provided her with the foreign currency notes, but it was not immediately clear if he was also involved in the racket.
She would sell smaller quantities of dollars at 140 rupees to build trust. When punters raise the stakes and give her millions of rupees to buy cut-rate dollars, she would make her move and not deliver the goods.
“After a few transactions, the ‘investors’ would give her larger sums of rupees, in some cases over 100 million, hoping to get rich quickly,” according to a person familiar with her modus operandi.
“She would also grant them sexual favours through some of her associates and have the encounters recorded. Should anyone complain and threaten to go to the police, she would blackmail them with the tapes.”
She is also known to have associated several top cops in Colombo and had taken photographs with political figures and Buddhist clergy.
Buddhist monk Galagodaththe Gnanasara in a statement on Tuesday said he had attended several ceremonies of Thilini Priyamali, but was not aware of her business dealings.
He had also blessed a World Trade Centre office Priyamali a few years ago.
Investigators said they were appealing to victims to come forward and help inquiries. Many were reluctant as they were unable to explain the source of their funds that were placed with Priyamali to convert into dollars. (COLOMBO/Oct12/2022)
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