Bank employees held for 'replacing jewellery with fake gold' in lockers

Suspects obtain Rs750 million loan from bank from stolen gold and fake customers

KARACHI:

As many as eight accused, including two women, were arrested on Friday for their alleged involvement in replacing gold ornaments with artificial jewellery in lockers of their bank clients.

As per details, the branch manager along with other staff of the bank replaced the jewellery with fake gold. The suspects also obtained Rs750 million loan from the same stolen gold and fake customers.

The heist came to light during the audit by senior officers of the bank. The arrested accused also included a fake woman customer.

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During the audit, out of the sealed bags kept in the locker of the branch, 50 bags were checked and the jewellery in the bags was found fake.

Upon further investigation, the audit team found that the accused stole the jewellery through fake ledgers and dummy clients.

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Accused were arrested by Investigation Police District East after two FIRs were lodged at Shahra-e-Faisal and Aziz Bhatti police stations against the bank officials and fake customers on the complaint of banks' senior officers on August 3 and 4, according to an official statement.

The police upon indication of arrested bank staff recovered 3.100kg gold, cash Rs2,030,000 and four vehicles.

Raids were being carried out to apprehend others involved and further investigations are also underway.

(With additional input from APP)