2 Bulgarians on bank fraud charges

They were arrested by Sgt Ramjit and and PC Phillip off the Arouca CID on Friday at Piarco Plaza, off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway at the Piarco intersection, tampering with a Republic Bank automatic banking machine (ABM). Devices used in the card skimming were also seized.

This investigation, led by Head of the Fraud Squad Snr Supt Totaram Dookhie, was carried out with the assistance of the and the Bankers Association and Sgt Joseph of the Cyber Crime Unit.

The men were charged with possession of card making equipment in breach of the Electronic Transfer of Funds Act and also for malicious damage to Republic Bank’s ABM at Piarco Plaza.

Also, an accountant is expected to appear in the San Fernando Magistrates Court today charged with stealing close to a quarter of a million dollars from a bank where he worked.

The suspect, 32, of Battoo Avenue, Marabella is no facing 21 charges for stealing more than $200,000.

The charges include money laundering, three counts of forgery, three counts of forgery, three counts of uttering forged valuable security and three counts of obtaining money by false pretences.

The suspect, who previously worked for a Central-based co-operative society, was arrested last week by Fraud Squad officers.

The investigators included Snr Supt Dookhie, ASP Ghisiyawan, legal officer Vinelle Bassarath, Cpls Badree, Bachoo and Hosein.

The Fraud Squad has recently laid several money laundering charges against police officers and foreigners involved in bank-card skimming.