KARACHI: Probe into Rs150m robbery stalls

Published January 11, 2008

KARACHI, Jan 10: The investigations into the city’s biggest robbery of Rs150 million seem to have stalled following a quick arrest by the Preedy police station investigators early Monday morning.

According to the statement of the two suspects, Younus and Bashir, who were picked up by the police at Kochi Camp in Sohrab Goth, they were ditched by their partners, Hameedullah and Noorul Khan, the two security guards, following the successful dacoity.

They told the police that they had arranged the getaway vehicle (KIA Sportage) by renting it. Subsequently police also picked up the owner of the rent-a-car outlet, from where the vehicle was obtained, but he was released after questioning.

The accused told police that all the five members of the team had dinner at the very place in Kochi Camp from where the two were picked up.

After having dinner they went to sleep deciding that they would distribute the booty in the morning. However, when they woke up, their three partners had fled with the cash. Police were able only to recover cash receipts from the two suspects.

Police believe that the three suspects are still in the city. However, with the lapse of time their chances of fleeing the city are becoming brighter, remarked a senior police officer.

Since the case has been transferred to the Anti-Violent Crime Unit, progress is being eagerly awaited by the top police bosses, who had decided to transfer the case to the AVCU.

On Jan 6, two security guards Hameedullah and Noorul Khan with the help of their three accomplices made history by robbing a money exchange company of currency totalling over Rs150 million from Saima Trade Towers.

The cash included foreign currency worth around Rs120.5 million that was flown in from Rawalpindi by a Sunday flight.