Dubai exchange staff escape with Dh6.5 million, manhunt on

Dubai - Victims realised something was wrong when funds did not reach family members even after 10 days.

Published: Tue 1 Aug 2017, 1:19 PM

Updated: Tue 1 Aug 2017, 7:30 PM

By
Afkar Ali Ahmed

Dubai Police are investigating a theft at a money exchange in the city where two managers stole Dh6.5 million and fled the country.

Officials at Naif police station told Khaleej Times that until Tuesday morning they had received more than 15 complaints from clients of the money exchange, who said their payments/services had not been processed and fund had not reached the intended recipients.

The owner of the exchange, after noticing that clients had been gathering at the premises of the establishment for several days, and upon noticing that the manager was missing, carried out an audit operation with the help of other employees.

The owner did not lodge any complaint about the theft, but police launched an investigation after the exchange's clients lodged complaints.

Initial investigation revealed that two managers had fled the country and they were working on their extradition.

The victims

Thuriya Fawstino from Nigeria said she had given the exchange Dh5,000 for remittance over 10 days ago, but the amount never reached her family. She visited the exchange everyday, and was told there was a computer problem, because of which the transfer hadn't been processed. She then lodged a complaint at Naif police station.

Another client said he regularly remitted funds through the exchange and did not expect such a turn of events. However, when his brother did not receive money for several days -- and when he noticed that the exchange was shut -- he immediately realised something was wrong. He, too, lodged a complaint with Naif police station.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com