Bank manager who looted millions caught after 19 years

ISTANBUL

Istanbul police have caught the suspect wanted for 19 years on charges of embezzling $4.5 million and 500,000 pounds by getting his customers to sign blank receipts while working as a manager at a bank.

The teams affiliated with the Fraud Bureau Directorate carried out work on the file, which was opened for fraud and embezzlement in 2001, and whose statute of limitations was about to expire.

It was determined that Elbeyi A., his surname identified only by initials, applied for retirement and continued to receive his pension from different bank branches.

The suspect also stayed at the houses of women he met through social media, used fake identities and constantly changed his appearance.

Thereupon, measures were taken in front of bank branches to capture the suspect, who was determined to be staying in a house in Istanbul’s Büyükçekmece district.

When Elbeyi A. came to the bank branch and tried to withdraw his money from an ATM, the police caught the suspects. Elbeyi A. was arrested after 19 years.

In 2001, bank investigators launched a probe upon a British customer’s report that 500,000 pounds were missing from his account.