Million dollar thieves behind bars

Three men from Singapore who were behind the theft of the $1 million belonging to the Reserve Bank of Fiji have been jailed.

39 year old Abdul Quadir Katu Miah, a time keeper and container checker pleaded guilty to five of nine charges and was jailed for a total of five years.

He had conspired with Azhar Abdul Shukor and Musa Mohmad to steal the money on board MV Pacific Voyager, berthed at Jurong Port, in Singapore between 5pm and 11pm on August 19th last year.

Lashing foreman Azhar, who entered the vessel with Musa and moved the $1 million in $20 denominations, was given four years and nine months after pleading guilty to four of six charges.

Musa, also a lashing foreman was jailed for four years on two of four charges.

The court heard that a container with 127 cases of Fijian notes amounting to $202 million was loaded onto Pacific Voyager on August 19 and its doors sealed.

Abdul Quadir who was working onboard the vessel, learnt about the money and broke into the container, where the notes were kept by using a cutter to break the bolt seals securing the container’s right door.

They then got an accomplice to change the money for them at a moneychanger.

They were arrested by the police between November and December, last year.

Their accomplice was charged, last year, and his case will be mentioned next week.


Story by: Vijay Narayan