(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) A former bank manager and a policeman have been arrested over the exploitation and rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Last week a cardiologist was arrested in connection to the child sex racket.

A former Maldivian State Minister was also among over 33 suspects arrested in connection to the exploitation and rape of the Sri Lankan teen.

A hotel manager had also been arrested in connection with the incident.

The mother of the child, the Deputy Chairman of the Mihintala Pradeshiya Sabha and a captain of a ship are among the suspects arrested over the incident.

The suspects now in custody also includes the main accused.

A three-wheel driver, a car driver and the suspect involved in designing the website used to sell the child for sex, were also arrested.

The 15-year-old girl had been sold for sex via the internet to multiple customers for Rs. 10,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 30,000 over a period of three months.

Preliminary investigations had revealed that the suspect had rented an apartment in Mount Lavinia to conduct his operations.

The suspect, who is reported to have sold the girl to several people on a daily basis, is said to have acquired the girl from her mother, who is a resident of Delgoda. (Colombo Gazette)