Alleged suspects accused of stealing $2 million from a money transferring company. (Credit: ISF)
BEIRUT — People who allegedly stole and concealed $2 million in August from a money transfer company have been arrested, the Internal Security Forces said in a statement Wednesday.
The heist happened when an employee of the money transfer company escaped in a vehicle carrying the cash money that was to be transferred. His colleague, who was in the vehicle with him, had reportedly asked him to stop at a bank in Badaro to collect his salary from the ATM.
After launching an investigation, police located the first man's hiding place in the southern town of Haboush last Wednesday, seized $800,000 and arrested him.
During his interrogation, the man admitted to carrying out the theft — which was planned by his son-in-law, according to him — and taking the money to Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs.
The suspect reportedly claimed that he shared the money with his son and his son-in-law and that the funds were used to buy real estate in South Lebanon as well as cars. Some of the money was also deposited in a bank, the ISF stated.
Authorities also arrested others involved in the case, in Haboush, Deir Zahrani and Beirut. More money and guns were reportedly found during this operation.
All the suspects confessed to taking part in the heist, the ISF said.
The ISF statement said that a total of $986,325 was seized, as well as the real estate and vehicles bought using stolen money. The funds deposited in banks were frozen.
Earlier in November, Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said that the crime rate in Lebanon has not increased so far this year, despite the many crises the country is facing, in comparison with the same period last year.
Mawlawi's statement contradicts that of General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim and Joseph Aoun who warned earlier this year of social instability in the wake of the political crisis.