Murdered Chinese national linked to alleged cybercrime operation, police say

Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the abduction and killing of a Chinese national from Colombo Port City, with police examining a possible dispute over large sums of money and links to an organised cybercrime operation.

The Colombo Crimes Division has identified the victim as Hao Song, who arrived in Sri Lanka from Cambodia on April 7 with a group of people.

Investigators said he entered the country using a passport issued by Suriname.

Police have also uncovered unusually large sums of money in accounts linked to the victim and suspect that a dispute over the funds may have led to his killing.

Information gathered so far indicates that Hao Song was a key member of an organised cybercrime operation, police said.

The victim’s driver, chef and girlfriend have been taken into custody for questioning. Police have assigned five teams to investigate different aspects of the case.

According to investigators, three Chinese nationals went fishing near the suspension bridge inside Colombo Port City at about 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

A group of around 20 Chinese nationals allegedly arrived at about 2 a.m. on Thursday, threatened the three men with firearms, assaulted them and abducted them.

Police later found two of the victims inside a van at Port City with their hands and legs bound. The assailants had taken the third man to an unknown location.

His body was discovered several hours later in Eheliyagoda.

Investigators said the victim had suffered severe injuries and was found with his hands, legs and eyes bound. Stones had been placed over the body in an apparent attempt to conceal it.

Police recovered a vehicle believed to have been used in the killing from the Eheliyagoda area. They also found a luxury jeep suspected of being connected to the crime at Pahala Bope in Padukka.

The investigation comes amid a series of cybercrime and financial fraud cases in which Sri Lankan authorities have arrested large numbers of foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens.