The police have arrested six people, including a shop salesman, for allegedly embezzling gold bangles weighing over 99 bhori from a jewellery store in the city and replacing them with imitation ornaments.
A total of 55 embezzled gold bangles, which had been pawned at various locations, were recovered during police drives. The recovered jewellery weighs 99 bhori which is equivalent to 1,158.33 grams.
Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Police (Panchlaish Zone) Md Sohail disclosed the details during a press conference held at Panchlaish Model Police Station on Friday afternoon.
The arrestees have been identified as the store’s salesman Romen De, owner of Modern Irani Jewellers Shyamal Singha, Joy De alias Babu, Roni De, Swapna De, and Imon De.
According to the police, Romen De had been working as a salesman for about 12 to 13 years at “New Konok Bahar Jewellers,” located on second floor of Mimi Super Market near Prabartak intersection in the city.
The theft came to light on 14 August during a stock audit, when 53 bangles were found missing. It was subsequently discovered that imitation bangles had been kept in seven boxes instead of the genuine gold ornaments.
Following the discovery, the shop owner, Biplob Basak, filed a case with Panchlaish Model Police Station. Police estimated that the 53 initially missing gold bangles weighed approximately 927.500 grams (79.51 bhori), valued at around Tk1,88,29,900.
Relying on information technology and intelligence, a police team conducted a drive and arrested Romen De from Foujdarhat Highway area in Sitakunda on Tuesday.
During interrogation, Romen De confessed to pawning the embezzled bangles at various jewellery shops and with pawnbrokers. He revealed that 46 of the bangles had been pawned to Shyamal Singha, the owner of Modern Irani Jewellers on Miakhan Nagar Road in Bakalia.
Following his confession, police arrested Shyamal Singha from Kanungopara area of Boalkhali on Wednesday.
Based on Singha’s information, police recovered seven gold bangles from Modern Irani Jewellers. Under further interrogation, Singha disclosed that the remaining 39 bangles had been kept at various jewellery shops and with pawnbrokers in Kotwali, Bakalia, and Chawkbazar areas.
Police subsequently conducted raids at those locations and recovered the ornaments, bringing the total number of recovered gold bangles to 55.
AC Md Sohail said the police are currently investigating whether any other individuals were involved in the gold embezzlement scheme, and are examining the roles of all parties associated with pawning the stolen gold across different areas.
