Many more influential persons were involved with the recent ATM booth skimming scam than initially anticipated, investigators have found.
After analysing the mobile phone and laptop of the prime suspect, Piotr Szczepan Mazurek, detectives found that top businessmen, hotel owners, bankers and other important personalities had close ties to members of the ATM scam, sources close to the investigation told the Dhaka Tribune.
A senior official of the Detective Branch even expressed his concerns that the investigation might encounter obstructions as some of the names that came up during the probe were too much of a bigshot.
However, the official refused to disclose names of the new suspects.
Seeking anonymity, the DB official said Piotr has been putting on a smile during interrogation. Piotr was quoted as saying: “Who do you think I am? I am not a street guy. I used to pay some of your top bosses.”
The involvement of the new suspects came to light after police conducted a raid at Piotr’s Gulshan residence on Thursday night and seized the Polish national’s phone, laptop and car.
Monirul Islam, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they were now busy analysing the information provided by Piotr and three other local bankers who were arrested in connection with the scam.
“Once the information is verified, actions will be taken against those responsible,” said Monirul, also the chief of the Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime Unit.
The DB official, who preferred to stay anonymous, told the Dhaka Tribune that the police was trying to estimate exactly how much money was skimmed through the scam. A letter has been drafted to be sent to Bangladesh Bank seeking assistance of private banks in assessing the damages.
The official added that a process is under way to seek Interpol’s help in arresting the suspects who had fled the country. The police were also keeping an eye on some suspects and activities in the business community.
Law enforcers are also reviewing the background of Piotr’s wife Merina, who used to work as a receptionist at Hotel Holiday Planet, where Piotr stayed after coming to Dhaka.
Investigators said Merina was a student of University of Development Alternative who married Piotr to solve her monetary troubles.
She reportedly helped Piotr in the scam and hosted parties to entertain influential persons Piotr wanted to get close to.