An Army deserter involved in 34 burglaries and robberies who had served as a sports instructor was arrested by Matale Police over the weekend.

The suspect had escaped from remand custody when he was taken from Kegalle Remand Prison to Kurunegala court last week. Police said he had managed to remove the handcuffs and fled from custody.

Thereafter, he has carried out robberies in Matale, Palapathwela, Imbulandanda, Kottegoda and several places in Matale when Police arrested him.A three sovereign gold chain and two motor cycles robbed by him were also recovered by the Matale Police unsolved crimes division.