Mugging of 500,000 riyal was staged, police say

Police have taken six people involved in the mugging of 500,000 Saudi riyal, approximately Tk 17.5 million, in Dhaka into custody, and uncovered that the incident had been staged.

On Wednesday, an employee of a foreign currency trader was allegedly robbed of 500,000 Saudi riyal at the Sat Rasta intersection in the city. Following the incident, police conducted an overnight raid, recovered about half of the amount, and took six people into custody.

Tejgaon Police Deputy Commissioner Ibne Mizan told bdnews24.com that Tuhin, an employee of foreign exchange trader Thandu Mia claimed he was on his way to make a “payment” to some people carrying 500,000 riyal when suddenly, criminals riding three motorcycles blocked the way of his private car.

"As per Tuhin's statement, criminals blocked his way as he reached the Sat Rasta intersection from the Baitul Mukarram area, and snatched the bag full of riyal after threatening to harm him."

When informed, police reached the spot and found Tuhin there. He was taken into custody, said Aslam Hossain, chief of Industrial Area Police Station.

The deputy commissioner said that after he was taken into custody, Tuhin confessed that he orchestrated the incident with his accomplices.

An initial investigation showed that Tuhin owed money to some people in Brahmanbaria, his hometown. He engaged those lenders in the robbery.

“After that, we, along with the DB team, conducted raids at different places in Dhaka and took six people into custody. We recovered 269,000 riyal from them."

Police are preparing to file a case over the incident and the six will be shown arrested in the case once it is filed.