Samarasundara had been at the funeral parlour to pay last respects to journalist Herald Wijesinghe.

Those at the funeral caught the man who stole the bag, and Samarasundara telephoned police emergency no. 119 and complained.

He said a policeman from Borella police who came to the scene upon being informed, reprimanded him for having complained to 119, and tried to attack him.

A videographer present captured how the sergeant from Borella police freed the thief and how he behaved at the scene.