KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): A senior central bank official on Sunday said they had sought Interpol’s help to trace and arrest the bank’s employees who allegedly got away with as much as 76 million afghanis from a branch in southern Kandahar province.
The theft at the branch in Spin Boldak town near the border with Pakistan was discovered on Thursday, and investigators believe the suspects had escaped to Pakistan.
Fazal Ahmad, Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) director for southwestern region, told Pajhowk Afghan News a delegation from Kabul had arrived in Kandahar to investigate the robbery, which reportedly involved a senior official at the bank, his son and brother-in-law, also on the staff.
He said their investigation revealed 76 million afghanis had been looted from the bank, contradicting previous claims that a total of 50 million afs had been stolen.
Ahmad said the suspects had sent their families to Pakistan prior to staging the raid. The looters then themselves moved to Pakistan, he said.
The looters had removed CCTV cameras installed at the bank, but investigators were able to find a footage showing the senior official looting the money with the help of two others, the director said.
Fazal Ahmad said the central bank’s main office had informed the international police and had sought their help to arrest the individuals.
Kandahar police spokesman Zia Durrani said police had opened their own investigation into the bank robbery and were trying to capture the robbers.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News a delegation of intelligence officials had been tasked with tracing the suspects.
Governor’s spokesman Samim Khpalwak said investigation into the matter was ongoing and once the probe was completed, the media would be given information.
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