Dubai: A multi-million robbery targeting a UAE-based bank has been thwarted and dozens of suspects arrested.
The Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution teamed up with the Criminal Investigation Department to foil the theft of AED635 million
The two agencies coordinated with the UAE Central Bank to recover the stolen money within 24 hours, according to report by WAM.
Thirty-eight Asian and European expatriates suspected of involvement in the massive robbery were arrested and a manhunt has been launched for six others who are still at large.
“The suspects will face charges under the Federal Penal Code No. 7 for the year 2016, and the Federal Executive Order No. 5 for the year 2012 on electronic crimes”, said Abu Dhabi Attorney-General Ali Mohammed Al Baloushi
A bank employee involved in the robbery logged into the electronic system using his colleague’s password and transferred the money to the accounts of five companies in five different banks in the UAE.
Alerted by the bank, The Public Funds Prosecution investigated the case and issued an order to freeze the money which was withdrawn illegally.
The police also seized 6,000 mobile phones valued at AED10 million as they were bought with the stolen money.