KARACHI: A French national, who had come to the city to attend Muharram congregations, was deprived of a huge amount of cash by some men wearing police uniform outside a hotel off Sharea Faisal a few days ago, police said on Friday.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that Issoufaly Idrysse had reported to the management of the hotel that he was staying in that hotel on July 6 and that his money amounting to 5,000 Euros was stolen from him outside the hotel near a private bank branch.

The DIG said the complainant left the hotel on foot and reached the main road to book a rickshaw. In the meantime, a white car approached him and some men clad in police uniform asked him about his identity and nationality and whether he had any money.

Mr Idrysse informed them about the money he had and they advised him to keep it safe in another pocket. “While talking to me, the individuals took the money and left the scene.”

He realised the missing cash after a while and reported the incident to the hotel manager.

The police visited the crime scene, interviewed the complainant and the guard at the gate, who corroborated the incident.

Footage from a CCTC camera installed nearby was reviewed and it showed a white Corolla stopping and the suspects interacting with the complainant for three to four minutes before leaving towards Sharea Faisal.

“The number plate was blurred and will be processed for clarity.” The DIG told Dawn that they suspected involvement of an ‘Iranian’ gang in the incident as members of that gang were arrested recently for an identical criminal activity.

He said the members of the gang used to wear police uniform and had looted another foreigner in Saddar recently over pretext of checking him.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2024