RIYADH: Six out of eleven member gang have been sentenced to 64 years in prison for blowing up an ATM and stealing 1.4 million riyals.
The Criminal Court in Riyadh ordered 700,000 riyals seized from them to be confiscated. It also ordered the men, a Saudi and five expatriates, to repay the balance of the stolen money. The court ordered to confiscate the vehicle used in the heist.
In February, six members of the criminal gang were arrested after blowing up a bank ATM in Al Jazirah District, south of Riyadh, and escaping with more than 1.4 million riyals in cash.
Five other men fled Saudi Arabia after the robbery on 15th February, smuggling 500,000 riyals of stolen money out of the country, according to Riyadh police spokesman Col. Shaker bin Suleiman Al Tuwaijri.
A Saudi team specialising in criminal investigation identified eleven men involved in the bank raid. The gang included four Egyptians, a Bulgarian and a Russian, along with two Saudis and one Yemeni.
Six alleged gang members were arrested with a vehicle and tools used to carry out the theft as well as 700,000 in stolen cash. Al Tuwaijri said authorities are working to bring back the five men who fled the country and recover the remaining money.
