Abu Dhabi police foil $42bn bank robbery

An extraordinary bank robbery came to light on Sunday when Abu Dhabi police revealed attempts to swindle AED153.9billion ($42 billion) from the UAE Central Bank.

Director of Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police, Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi, described how two attempts were made to withdraw colossal sums of money from the Central Bank using forged documents and bizarre cover stories.

In the first incident three suspects, including the branch manager of a bank in the UAE, produced forged documents that they claimed proved that the UAE Central Bank owed a total amount of AED52.7bn ($14.4bn) to their 'Leader', who hails from a neighbouring country.

In a second attempt, which took place 39 days later, two other suspects, a tourist and a resident investor, appeared with a new set of forged documents demanding to withdraw AED101.2bn ($27.5bn). They again claimed the UAE Central Bank owed to the money to their 'Leader' who had inherited the wealth from his grandparents.

The Police were called and the suspects were arrested, said Brigadier Al Sharifi.

Though the two incidents took place a few weeks apart, the primary investigation suggested that both attempts were masterminded by the same sixth person, named as A.F.K by official UAE news agency WAM.

A.F.K. is said to live in an unnamed neighbouring country, according to WAM.

Chief of the Organised Crimes combating section at the Abu Dhabi Police, Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Mohammed Bu Rashid, revealed that the Police arrested the suspects after the Central Bank forwarded the documents, which the police found were forged.

No further details were given.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Flop
Posted by Saleh, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 23:33 UAE time


this is some movie script and i must say it a Flop before you start shooting for it

Funny Story!
Posted by DSM, Dubai on Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 15:09 UAE time


Upon reading the article, it gives impression that the so called "Robbers" went to the counters of CB and tried to "WITHDRAW MONEY" by presenting FORGED Documents!!!! Well, to the best of my Knowledge, any Central Bank (of any country) works as "Bankers' Bank" and it DOES NOT entertain Civilians for any type of Transactions!! (Please correct me if I am wrong!)

This article has left me with some questions like:
1) Does Central Bank (of any country) have Teller/Cash Counters like normal Banks?
2) How is it possible to “withdraw” amounts like, AED. 52.7b & 101.2b and carry it in ONE GO? (Well, it’s a debatable question if the CB has that volume of money with it!)
3) How is it possible for someone (a civilian) to just walk in the Central Bank and try to "Withdraw" money!!! It sounds stupid to hear that someone produced some documents claiming that the Central Bank owed money to an "INDIVIDUAL"??!
4) Why & how would any amount be held by a Central Bank which is a WEALTH INHERITED by an INDIVIDUAL from his "GRANDPARENTS"??!! (My head is spinning since I read this article!!)
5) How an attempt can be called as "Mastermind" when it is foiled in first place!!!!
6) Who is this so called Branch Manager of a UAE Bank (which Bank), A Tourist, A Resident Investor, "The Leader" A.F.K and Above ALL, where is this so called "UNNAMED NEIGHBOURING COUNRTY" existing near UAE??

AB can you please throw some light on this funny story!

Not a robbery
Posted by JJ, Doha, Qatar on Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 14:33 UAE time


Common!!! No guns, no getaway car, no masks, tear gas or hostages.

You cant call this robbery!

The robbers caught themselves...
Posted by Sergei Kuk, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 21 July 2009 at 12:05 UAE time


I dont know whether Abu Dhabi police made this story up to TRY and look good but if they are trying to get credit for foiling some alleged attempt to steal so much then they instead look naive and stupid.

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