Police have arrested five suspects, including a woman, over the shooting death of a Colombo businessman described as a close relative of the overseas organised crime figure known as Kanjipani Imran, Ada Derana reported.
The arrests are the first announced in the case since the killing on August 10, when no suspects had been identified publicly.
Officers from the Colombo North Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit made the arrests on Monday, acting on information gathered during the murder investigation, police said.
Drugs and a motorcycle seized
Two of those detained — a 21-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both residents of Colombo 15 — were arrested in possession of 25 grams and 840 milligrams of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as “Ice”, and handed over to the Kotahena Police.
The remaining three suspects, aged 19, 25 and 28, were held with 12 grams and 380 milligrams of Ice and a motorcycle that investigators allege was used in the killing. Police said they are residents of Mattakkuliya, Dompe and Mulleriyawa.
The August 10 shooting
The victim, a 54-year-old who owned a hardware store on Sri Sangharaja Mawatha in Maligawatta, was shot at about 1.20 p.m. on August 10 within the Kotahena Police Division. Two attackers arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire before fleeing. He was taken to the Colombo National Hospital and later died of his injuries.
Police have said he had no criminal record of his own and was targeted because of his family connection.
Ada Derana names the victim as Mohamed Asmin Moideen. NewsFirst earlier gave the name as Mohamed Asmi Mohideen, the form used in LankaNewz’s original report; the outlets have not reconciled the spelling.
Investigators point to a rival gang
Police continue to suspect the killing was ordered by an organised crime figure known as “Kudu Anju”, believed to be living in France, and that it was carried out in retaliation for the recent murder of one of his close associates in Ratmalana.
Ada Derana was the only verified newsroom carrying the arrests at the time of publication.
