News

Real estate buyers landed with bogus deeds, fraudulent transactions

By Damith Wickremasekara

A manager of a private bank recently purchased an 11-perch block of land near the Diyawanna Oya in Kotte, close to the Parliament complex. He was happy about the deal as he had paid only Rs 6 million, a comparatively low price.

The transaction had been effected through a broker, as the manager was busy, and he had visited the land only on a few occasions, prior to the sale. On completion of the transaction, the buyer, along with some labourers, went to the plot to fence it, but he was resisted by some of the villagers. A while later, a person claiming to be the owner of the land, turned up. The bank manager soon realised he had been duped.

The bank manager lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). CID inquiries revealed that the bogus owner who sold the land had first rented out a house adjoining the land to be sold. Thereafter, he told prospective buyers that he was hurriedly selling the land close to his house, as his family was migrating.

Investigations further revealed that the man responsible for the fraudulent sale had first prepared a forged identity card with the details of the actual owner, and thereafter, obtained the related documents from the relevant State institutions to produce a bogus deed for the transaction.

Four persons involved in the fraudulent sale are presently in custody. This is among some 400 complaints of illegal land deals and land grabbing received by the CID, after Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa directed to probe such cases.

Some 40 persons have been arrested to date in connection with illegal land deals and transactions.
Among the complainants have been those who have migrated, giving responsibility of the land to a caretaker.

The CID has set up a special unit to probe into complaints on unlawful or criminal misappropriation of property by impersonators or by thugs. In Angoda, a 30-acre coconut land was on offer for sale for Rs. 7 million. This was after the caretaker of the land had been threatened and chased away.

The buyer paid Rs. 4 million and when he tracked down the address of the owner of the land, he found that it was the address of a natami (porter) in Colombo. The real owner returned from overseas and complained to the CID.

In another similar case, a land was on auction in Kandana, and the would-be buyer paid Rs. 500,000 as an advance, but when he visited the land, he found that there was another owner for the land. The auctioneer had produced forged deeds and the transaction conducted via mobile phone.

Instances of land frauds have been on the increase in the recent past, prompting the police to warn the public to be careful when buying land. A senior Police officer said that those purchasing land should always check the identity of the owner through the Grama Niladhari and from residents adjoining the land, as forged identity cards are used in land transactions. In the absence of the real owner, prospective buyers should also check if the land is being transacted by a bona fide power-of-attorney holder.

Refrain from signing blank sheets of paper or incomplete documents. People should be careful if the land is being sold below market value. Using the service of an Attorney-at-Law/Notary Public for land transactions, transacting through a bank draft instead of cash, photographing the transaction so that the owner’s picture is available to identify the owner, along with land phone contact numbers, are some of the precautionary measures a prospective buyer should resort to when intending to purchase land.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Oil imports: Lanka in major diplomatic dilemma
Islamic missionaries told to declare nature of their visit
Eastern PC wants police, land powers
Balance US$ 800 ml. IMF loan poses problem for Govt.
Spot fines, jail terms for mosquito breeders
We were scared we would be eaten by fellow prisoners: Trawler skipper
Military parade, religious ceremonies, Deyata Kirula herald Independence Day at Anuradhapura
Right of lawyers to represent clients in Police custody to be Gazetted
Motorcyclist involved in fatal accident has conviction, 10-month RI overturned
CEB employees threaten aftershocks against higher pay hike for management
Armed pro-Govt groups hijack Black January protest with ‘Police protection’
News in brief
3 to 5 children raped daily
Peradeniya fresher allegedly stripped, hung from a beam and sexually abused
Maldivian govt., opposition at loggerheads, seek UN, C’wealth intervention
Clinical trials on safety of drugs with animals and humans as ‘guinea pigs’
Major credit card scam busted
Prison clash fuelled by guards, probe reveals
Real estate buyers landed with bogus deeds, fraudulent transactions
UNP: State land goes willy nilly sans tenders and transparency
Fiery death for four mourners
Navy nabs 4 ex-Sea Tigers swimming to Mannar
When and why high-profile investigations fail
Clouds of dust

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2012 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution