Jan 01, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court has ordered the deportation of a Taiwanese gang arrested for operating a money laundering scam from Sri Lanka through the internet.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singappuli ordered the Taiwanese gang of 74 males and 26 females who have extorted money from wealthy businessmen in China through the internet while residing in Sri Lanka as tourists.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Sri Lanka Police acting on information received from Taiwanese authorities arrested the extortionists during raids in an around Colombo last month .

The suspects had rented apartments in Colombo, Rajagiriya and Battaramulla and operated from eight locations. The suspects have reportedly extorted Chinese currency worth US$ 15 million.

Simon Lee and Tang Weizhong - Sectional Chief and Vice Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau of Taiwan and Elvis Leu of Taiwan Interpol Branch of the Crime Investigation Bureau appeared in the court yesterday to take the custody of the suspects.