COLOMBO: A 52-year-old person, identified as a prominent businessperson, who was found tied up inside a car at the Borella General Cemetery,died on admission to the ICU of the National Hospital in Colombo around 11.30 pm on Thursday,December 15.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is conducting further investigations into the incident, which is suspected to be an attempt to abduct and murder the businessman.
Borella Police said that the victim, identified as Dinesh Schaffter, the working director of Janasakthi insurance company in the country, had been abducted and taken to the Borella general cemetery.
Investigations had revealed that the victim had left home at Flower Road in Cinnamon Garden Wednesday evening, Dec,14, informing his wife that he was going to meet an individual who owes him million of rupees.
However, when his wife had attempted to call him a little while later, his mobile phone was disconnected. His wife had managed to trace the location of the mobile phone to near the Borealla cemetery while she had proceeded to inform an executive officer of the company due to a growing suspicion.
The executive officer had informed police that when he arrived at the cemetery, he discovered the director tied up using zip ties and in the driving seat of his car with a tyre around his neck.
Acting immediately, he had proceeded to free the company director from the bindings and remove the tyre from around his neck with the help of a labourer at the cemetery. He was later admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.
A high-ranking police officer said that the victim was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Colombo National Hospital and that they are unable to obtain any statements from him at this moment and subsequently he passed away.
Police also said that a labour worker at the cemetery had witnessed an unidentified person leaving from near the victim’s car.
