Fugitive pair duped firms out of BD1m
Feb 09, 2013 (Menafn – Gulf Daily News – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) –TWO Indians suspected of conning businesses in Bahrain out of thousands of dinars left the country last month, it has emerged.
The GDN reported on Wednesday that worried business owners were being urged to contact the police amid fears that firms could have been duped out of tens of thousands of dinars.
However, suspected victims fear the total figure could be as high as BD1 million.
Two men allegedly behind the suspected scam left the country last month, with one departing to India on January 16 and the other travelling to the UAE on January 28, a General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs spokesman told the GDN.
They were behind two companies set up in Bahrain last September and October, which have already been identified in the Indian media as Saphi Middle East Trading and Ibrahim and Partner Trading Company.
They opened an account with the State Bank of India and used post-dated cheques to purchase goods from suppliers in Bahrain.
However, it has emerged a total of 22 cheques have already bounced with more expected to follow.
A spokesman for the bank told the GDN there was no money in the account.
“So far we have returned 22 cheques,” he said.
“There has been no transaction for the last 15 days and there is no money in this account.”
He reiterated that the bank had referred the case to the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Traders who accepted post-dated cheques to supply the suspected rogue firms are now worried that they have become victims of a massive fraud, having effectively handed over goods for free.
Complaint
Reports suggest items “purchased” by the two firms — including furniture, electronics, construction materials and leather goods — were either sold at discount prices in Bahrain or exported.
One of the victims, who asked to remain anonymous, said his company had lost goods worth BD60,000.
“They ordered air conditioners, generators and refrigerators,” he said.
“We lost BD60,000 and now we are planning to lodge complaints at the (Indian) Embassy against them.”
Meanwhile, a popular restaurant that also asked to remain anonymous confirmed a cheque for food ordered by the suspected conmen had bounced.
“They ordered meals — lunch and dinner — from our restaurant and gave us two cheques and one invoice,” said a spokesman.
“One cheque went through and the other bounced. We still have the invoice.
“It’s not a big amount for me as it was only BD475.
“We have heard many stories about them and that they fled the country without paying anyone.”
Meanwhile, an Indian Embassy spokesman told the GDN that suspected victims of the alleged scam should lodge a complaint with police.
He added that the Indian government was unable to intervene if the suspects were in a foreign country.
“We can send the petition to the Indian government and ask them to investigate if the swindlers are in India,” he said.
“If they are not in India, we cannot get any help from the government.”
Attempts to contact the two companies have proven unsuccessful.
Similar scams have already been reported in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. aneeqa@gdn.com.bh
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