Police in Sri Lanka have arrested 100 Chinese
nationals for an online currency fraud scam in a string of night-time raids in
and around the capital Colombo, according to officials.
"They
have defrauded their countrymen by making them... transfer money to accounts
maintained in Sri Lanka in the names of those arrested," Prishantha
Jayakodi, a senior superintendent, told AFP on Saturday.
Police
said that the 74 men and 26 women were arrested on Friday night at their
residences in the capital or in the surrounding areas following a court order.
They are due to be produced in court later on Saturday.
Thousands
of Chinese work in Chinese-funded development projects across the island. Many
more arrive on tourist visas and work in the hospitality industry.
"The
fraud-affected people (live) in China," Jayakodi said. "The fraud was
carried out in Sri Lanka through the Internet."
The
arrests come as China has been investing heavily in the tropical island nation
as it enlarges its presence in South Asia.
In
June, the tropical island nation opened Sri Lanka's first Chinese-built port,
for which China loaned money. The port was seen as a strong symbol of Beijing's
investment and interest in the region.
China
is also building a second port in Colombo and Chinese firms have pledged
investments totalling $50 billion spread over the next 10 to 15 years,
according to Sri Lanka's trade ministry.
The
number of Chinese has mushroomed in the island since the middle of the last
decade with Chinese restaurants and Chinese medical centres other visible signs
of their presence.
Regional
power India views Sri Lanka as being firmly within its sphere of influence and
has been concerned about China getting a foothold there and in other
surrounding countries.
Police
said the Chinese nationals accused in the currency scam were in the country on
tourist visas, adding that more details would be available once they are
produced in court.
There
was no immediate official confirmation on the charges they face, but a police
officer, who wished to remain unnamed, said money-laundering could be one of
them.
