3 arrested, Tk97 lakh recovered after driver flees with Tk1cr
Police say the driver spent part of the stolen cash on renting a new house, furniture, and a mobile phone.
Police have arrested three people and recovered Tk97.03 lakh after a garment factory owner's personal driver allegedly fled with Tk1 crore in cash meant for workers' salaries -- then texted the owner "sorry" before going into hiding.
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent (SP) Mohammad Amjad Hossain made the disclosure at a press briefing at the Industrial Police-2 office in Gazipur this afternoon (5 September).
According to Industrial Police, a Chinese businessman was travelling from a factory in Gazipur's Rajendrapur to Dhaka on the morning of 1 September with Tk1 crore in cash for workers' salaries and other expenses. His personal driver, Zahid Hasan, was driving the vehicle.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
When the vehicle reached in front of Purbachal Cadet Club in Narayanganj's Rupganj, a brief halt was made there. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the businessman's driver Zahid, who was in the vehicle, fled with the Tk1 crore in cash.
Soon after fleeing, the driver sent his employer an apologetic SMS saying "sorry" before going into hiding.
A case was filed with Rupganj Police Station. As the incident involved an industrial establishment, Industrial Police-2 launched a parallel investigation and, along with the Jhenaidah District Detective Branch, conducted raids in Dhaka, Gazipur and Jhenaidah.
Zahid was arrested in Harinakundu, Jhenaidah. Based on his information, police recovered Tk86 lakh from his home. His maternal uncle, Joynuzzaman, and wife, Nasima Akter, were later arrested. Police recovered Tk1.03 lakh from Joynuzzaman and Tk10 lakh from Nasima.
During preliminary interrogation, Zahid told police that he had spent around Tk1.20 lakh of the stolen money to rent a new house and buy furniture. He also bought a new mobile phone for Tk33,000.
Police seized the furniture and the phone, said SP Amjad.
He also said the quick identification of those involved and recovery of most of the stolen money was a major success for the police.
The arrested people, seized items and recovered money were being handed over to Rupganj Police Station, where the case was filed, he added.
The SP also said that police are continuing efforts to identify and arrest others involved in the incident and recover the remaining money.
