Man stages robbery to conceal foreign currency in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: An influential figure in the federal capital allegedly staged a robbery in connivance with a local money changer to hide a large amount of foreign currency.

On April 4, the individual instructed his driver to convert Rs6.8 million into euros at a money exchanger in Rawalpindi and allegedly sent a gang to loot his own money. The robbers easily took away the converted amount, which includes Pakistan rupees and Syrian pounds, from the driver and fled from the scene of the incident.

A case was registered at the Aabpara police station. However, the police swiftly raised suspicion that the robbery may have been staged. Police recovered an amount of $10,000 from the driver presumably left in the car untouched, raising concern and soon the police found out about the perpetrators.

The driver, named Muhammad Safarash, in his initial statement to the police said that he went to a Sheikh Iqbal, a money changer in Rawalpindi, to convert the money from two forex dealers in Islamabad named Umar and Adnan Dahwah. The money exchanger dealer first converted the money into Saudi riyals and then into $10,000 and the rest into euros. The driver carried the currency before he was looted by the suspects near Khada Market area in Rawalpindi.

Police investigation also revealed that the CCTV footage of the driver’s meeting with the money changer has been erased. Police have decided to include the actual owner into the investigation, but the individual has been using his influence to halt proceedings against him.

The case has been handed over to Crime Investigation Agency of the Islamabad Police after hefty payment was paid to an inspector to stop proceedings and ensure that that name of the individual is not revealed.