The Keselwatte Police reported that the underground storage room of the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was broken into by thieves for the second time in a fortnight. The break-in took yesterday (17) morning.
This underground storage contains old case documents, firearms, and gold items, making it a repository of significant legal and valuable assets.
The first incident of theft from the storage room occurred on the 6th, prompting the Chief Magistrate’s Court to take action. The registry in charge of case goods No. 01 of the Colombo Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court filed the initial complaint with the Keselwatta Police on the 6th.
Yesterday, the police received a second complaint, indicating that the underground storage had once again been broken into.
To safeguard the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, a police officer and two private security officers have been deployed. The thieves managed to bypass the security measures, as they broke the locks on the two iron doors, which were secured with four keys. Subsequently, new keys were inserted to further complicate the situation.
A significant concern is the malfunction of the CCTV cameras installed within the Magistrate’s Court, which have not been operational for some time.
Additionally, it has come to light that no comprehensive documentation exists regarding the materials stored in the underground warehouse, further complicating the ongoing investigation. Ascertaining whether any case files or firearms have been misplaced presents a considerable challenge.
The authorities have responded to this disconcerting situation with an on-site investigation, involving fingerprinting officers and SECO officers.
