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POLICE have arrested a 30-year-old automated teller machine (ATM) operator at a bank in Ndola for allegedly stealing more than K1 million belonging to the bank.
Copperbelt Province deputy commissioner of police Byemba Musole said the alleged theft was on April 6 this year at Buteko branch.
Mr Musole identified the suspect as Mike Zulu of house number 2410 in Ndola’s Pamodzi Site and Service, who allegedly set the ATM on fire to disguise the theft.
He said Mr Zulu was arrested together with a named friend who was released due to insufficient evidence linking him to the theft.
“Yes, I can confirm that we arrested two ATM operators for allegedly stealing K1,031,380, but one was later released as there was no evidence linking him to the theft. We have decided to detain Zulu as there is serious circumstantial evidence linking him to the theft,” Mr Musole said.
Mr Musole said the suspect is alleged to have set the ATM safe on fire after allegedly stealing the money, but that other employees at the bank became suspicious as the money that was reportedly burnt did not match the missing lot.
He added that the suspect was captured by closed circuit television (CCTV) fidgeting with the safe containing the money and also trying to tamper with the CCTV server.
Mr Musole wondered why it took long for the bank to report the matter to Police, especially that the amount involved was colossal.
He also said partially burnt match sticks and banknotes were found in the ATM safe.
The suspect is custody.
“The suspect allegedly deliberately set the safe on fire so as to pretend that the money had been burnt in the inferno, but as you can see, the amount of money involved is colossal.
“So, we have detained the suspect and the next course of action on him will be decided by tomorrow,” Mr Musole said yesterday.
MUBANGA NONDO – Zambia Daily Mail
