Money exchange managers flee with Dh6.5M; probe on

dubai — The Dubai Police are investigating a theft case at a money exchange, allegedly carried out by two of its own managers who have fled the country with a sum of Dh6.5 million.

Police officials at the Naif police station told Khaleej Times that they received over 15 complaints from the exchange’s clients, regarding amounts they had sent to their home countries but weren’t processed or reached the recipients.

The money exchange owner, after realising that clients were gathering at his premises for several days and that the managers had disappeared, carried out an audit operation with the help of his other employees. The owner, however, did not lodge a complaint about the theft. The police launched an investigation after the clients complained at the police station.

The investigation revealed that the two managers had fled the country. The Dubai Police are now working on procedures to get them extradited. The exchange owner has been instructed to reach a temporary settlement with the duped clients.

Among the victims are Thuriya Fawstino from Nigeria, who sent Dh5,000 just 10 days ago. Her family never received the amount. When she went back to the exchange, she was told there was a problem with their computer system, prompting her to complain at the Naif Police Station.

Aeron, another client, said he has been a regular customer of this particular money exchange for a long time and never expected such a thing to take place. His brother did not receive the sent amount either. In the last two days, he found the exchange closed and realised that something unusual had happened, leading him to place a complaint as well.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com