Murdered Chinese national linked to major mafia syndicate
Police investigations have revealed that the Chinese national abducted from Colombo Port City and later found murdered, was allegedly a member of a major Chinese organised crime syndicate involved in cybercrime operations.
The victim, identified as Hao Song, was abducted on July 23 after two Chinese groups clashed at Colombo Port City.
His body was later found concealed in a wooded area at Gatekade, Karandana, in Eheliyagoda.
Preliminary investigations indicate that he was killed with sharp weapons.
02 Chinese nationals, aged 34 and 38, suspected of carrying out the murder were arrested by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, later that night while allegedly attempting to flee the country.
Police said the suspects had arrived at the BIA to board Air India flight AI-2275 to Singapore via Mumbai.
They were also found to have Vietnamese and Cambodian passports before being handed over to the Western Province South Crime Division for further investigations.
Linked to cybercrime operations
Investigators have revealed that Hao Song was allegedly a key figure in an international online criminal network and a member of a prominent Chinese organised crime syndicate.
Police believe the murder was carefully planned, with 02 members of the victim’s own criminal network allegedly assigned to carry out the killing.
According to investigators, the motive was a dispute over extortion linked to proceeds generated through cybercrime.
The victim was also found carrying Cambodian and Surinamese passports bearing different names but displaying his photograph.
Investigators further suspect that the Cambodian passport used to enter Sri Lanka was forged.
Police said Hao Song had been living in Sri Lanka for around 06 months and had allegedly brought foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, into the country to conduct cybercrime operations using hackers.
Investigators believe the abductors’ primary objective was to obtain the victim’s mobile phone, which allegedly contained sensitive information, including access to assets worth millions of dollars.
Police suspect the perpetrators intended to force the victim to transfer funds using the device.
Authorities have identified 07 suspects connected to the murder.
While 02 have been arrested, measures have been taken to prevent the remaining suspects from leaving Sri Lanka, according to a senior police officer.
Mobile phone recovered from the sea
Police had previously recovered an air pistol from the van allegedly used by the suspects at Colombo Port City.
A second air pistol, believed to have fallen into the sea during the struggle with the victim, was later recovered by police divers.
The victim’s mobile phone was also recovered from the sea. Investigators have not yet determined whether the victim deliberately threw the phone into the water or whether it fell during the struggle.
Investigations have revealed that the suspects visited the Eheliyagoda area on July 18 to identify secluded locations before carrying out the crime.
During questioning, the arrested suspects reportedly admitted that they repeatedly assaulted the victim in an attempt to obtain his mobile phone.
After failing to locate the device, several members of the group allegedly returned to Colombo Port City to search for it.
While doing so, a police officer attached to the Port Police became suspicious and photographed the suspects using his mobile phone.
After the victim’s companions reported the abduction, the photographs were immediately circulated to airport authorities, enabling officers to arrest 02 suspects before they boarded their flight.
The suspects allegedly told investigators they killed the victim after failing to recover the mobile phone.
Police said the body was dumped in a remote forested area in Karandana, Eheliyagoda, covered with stones, before the suspects attempted to flee Sri Lanka.
Investigators further believe the suspects decided to leave the country after realising police had photographed them.
It was also revealed that no complaint regarding the abduction had been lodged at the time the photographs were taken.
The 02 suspects were produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court on July 25 after being detained and questioned for 48 hours and have been remanded until today (July 27).
The investigation is being conducted by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) with the assistance of the Embassy of China in Sri Lanka, according to a senior police officer.
The 2 suspects arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake
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