The seizures captured by the ISF from the two alleged robbers in Chtoura. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Two men suspected of allegedly robbing and beating an individual in front of a Bank Audi branch in Chtoura, Bekaa on Sept. 15, and stealing about $50,000 from him, were arrested by the Internal Security Forces on Sept. 23, the ISF said on Friday.
The security forces said they identified the alleged two suspects 24 hours after the incident. They arrested them on Sept. 23 in an apartment in Verdun, Beirut.
They also said that the two suspects, Lebanese citizens aged 30 and 40, had multiple arrest warrants against them for crimes that include using and owning weapons, robberies and others. The two suspects also allegedly paid $10,000 commission to a person who informed them that the victim was going to deposit his money at the Chtoura branch of Bank Audi that day.
The alleged informant was arrested by the Lebanese Army's intelligence branch. Approximately $30,000 out of the $50,000 were returned to the victim, according to the ISF.
An assault rifle and a handgun with munitions were seized in the two suspects' possession, in addition to two vehicles, and around $1,500 and LL4 million in cash.
The incident had originally occurred in a street that has several banks and is known as a street with a local gold market, which has regular commercial traffic and is frequented by citizens on a daily basis.