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It took just four hours for a Singaporean to allegedly stage a daring million-dollar heist in what is called the first of its kind in Fiji.
According to a Straits Times report, 38-year-old Abdul Quadir Katu Miah robbed the Reserve Bank of Fiji on August 19 — without even leaving Singapore.
He and an unknown number of accomplices climbed aboard a ship at anchor at Jurong Port and allegedly looted 1 million Fiji dollars (S$709,000) from a container filled with freshly-printed banknotes.
The banknotes, all of which were FJD$20 bills, were en route to Fiji from England, where they had been printed. The notes were meant to replenish the supply of FJD$20 bills in Suva, the capital of Fiji.
Curiously enough, some of this stolen money was already circulating in Fiji, prior to the ship’s arrival at Suva Wharf. A spokesman for the Fiji Police Force, Mr Fred Elbourne, said it was most likely brought in by tourists from Australia.
The theft itself, however, was only discovered two weeks later, after the shipment reached the Fijian capital.
Abdul Quadir was arrested last Thursday, and charged with theft in a subordinate court on Friday.
Another man, Azlee Abd Shukor, 37 was charged with receiving and retaining FJD$480,000 of the stolen money.
It is unclear if the men involved worked on the shipyard. Both Singaporeans have been remanded and will appear in court on Friday.
According to court documents, more than one accomplice was likely to have been involved in the heist. Police declined to comment further as investigations were still in progress.
Mr Elbourne declined to disclose the total amount the shipment contained, but said the shipment was in transit in Singapore for about two weeks.
Abdul Quadir allegedly boarded the Pacific Voyager between 7pm and 11pm on August 19 to commit the theft. Two days later, Azlee reportedly received part of the stolen money. While it remains unknown as to whether Azlee took part in the heist, he was reportedly aware that it had been stolen, court documents revealed.
The theft was only discovered when a truck driver at the Suva wharf noticed the broken seal on the container when the ship docked on September 4 and alerted the authorities.
The Fiji Police Force followed up by launching investigations, working with authorities in Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia. Two senior Fijian police officers spent about three weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia assisting in investigations that ended more than a week ago.
Mr Elbourne said that this was the first case of its kind in Fiji where banknotes were stolen from a cargo ship in transit.
If found guilty of theft, Abdul Quadir could be looking at a fine and up to three years in jail.
For dishonestly receiving or retaining stolen property, Azlee could face a fine and a five-year jail term.
According to a Straits Times report, 38-year-old Abdul Quadir Katu Miah robbed the Reserve Bank of Fiji on August 19 — without even leaving Singapore.
He and an unknown number of accomplices climbed aboard a ship at anchor at Jurong Port and allegedly looted 1 million Fiji dollars (S$709,000) from a container filled with freshly-printed banknotes.
The banknotes, all of which were FJD$20 bills, were en route to Fiji from England, where they had been printed. The notes were meant to replenish the supply of FJD$20 bills in Suva, the capital of Fiji.
Curiously enough, some of this stolen money was already circulating in Fiji, prior to the ship’s arrival at Suva Wharf. A spokesman for the Fiji Police Force, Mr Fred Elbourne, said it was most likely brought in by tourists from Australia.
The theft itself, however, was only discovered two weeks later, after the shipment reached the Fijian capital.
Abdul Quadir was arrested last Thursday, and charged with theft in a subordinate court on Friday.
Another man, Azlee Abd Shukor, 37 was charged with receiving and retaining FJD$480,000 of the stolen money.
It is unclear if the men involved worked on the shipyard. Both Singaporeans have been remanded and will appear in court on Friday.
According to court documents, more than one accomplice was likely to have been involved in the heist. Police declined to comment further as investigations were still in progress.
Mr Elbourne declined to disclose the total amount the shipment contained, but said the shipment was in transit in Singapore for about two weeks.
Abdul Quadir allegedly boarded the Pacific Voyager between 7pm and 11pm on August 19 to commit the theft. Two days later, Azlee reportedly received part of the stolen money. While it remains unknown as to whether Azlee took part in the heist, he was reportedly aware that it had been stolen, court documents revealed.
The theft was only discovered when a truck driver at the Suva wharf noticed the broken seal on the container when the ship docked on September 4 and alerted the authorities.
The Fiji Police Force followed up by launching investigations, working with authorities in Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia. Two senior Fijian police officers spent about three weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia assisting in investigations that ended more than a week ago.
Mr Elbourne said that this was the first case of its kind in Fiji where banknotes were stolen from a cargo ship in transit.
If found guilty of theft, Abdul Quadir could be looking at a fine and up to three years in jail.
For dishonestly receiving or retaining stolen property, Azlee could face a fine and a five-year jail term.
