Customer accounts emptied/ 12 security measures for bank branch employees, director and deputy arrested

2026-06-03 09:18:00, Aktualitet CNA

Customer accounts emptied/ 12 security measures for bank branch employees,

The Tirana Prosecution Office imposed 12 security measures, 'Prison Arrest', 'House Arrest' and 'Suspension of a public duty or service' against 12 citizens accused of the criminal offenses of 'Theft by Abuse of Office', 'Forgery of Documents' and 'Computer Forgery'.

The investigations began after citizen IO reported that unauthorized persons had withdrawn amounts of 500,000 lek from his three accounts at UBA Bank. Meanwhile, another report was filed by the bank itself, which reported the case of unauthorized withdrawal of amounts against client AK at the same branch.

Investigations revealed that 30 withdrawals were made by bank customers without a mandate, and several time deposits in euros and dollars were opened and closed without authorization.

In the specific case, the investigations resulted in the conclusion that against the persons under investigation, citizens EQ, ID, EK, BM, AK, GH, GB, DD, OK, RSBN and Zh.B. there is reasonable suspicion that they are potential perpetrators of the criminal offenses 'Theft by abuse of office', 'Forgery of documents' and 'Computer forgery' provided for by articles 135/25, 186/3 and 186/a/2 of the Criminal Code.

Citizens AK and GH, deputy director and director of the branch, against whom the precautionary measure 'Arrest in prison' was requested, resulted in having repeatedly committed illegal actions during the exercise of their functional duty. By abusing their duty and access to the banking system, they have embezzled the monetary amounts of two clients through the use of false withdrawal mandates, without a mandate, illegal entry into the system through currency conversions, opening/closing deposits and changing data without authorization. This coordinated theft scheme creates reasonable suspicion of the consumption of the criminal offense for which they are under investigation. They carried out these actions in collaboration with other bank employees, in the capacity of cashier, supervisor and customer service.

The security measure 'House arrest' was imposed on citizens GB, DD, OK, RS, BN, and Zh.B., for repeatedly committing illegal actions in the exercise of their duties. By abusing their duties and functional access to the banking system, they embezzled monetary amounts of two clients through the use of false withdrawal mandates or interference in the system without their authorization.

This benefit scheme, carried out by bank employees according to function, operated according to the mechanism: cashier/customer service, through exclusive access to customer funds, intervened and manipulated the banking system, actions which were verified and authorized by the management level in the hierarchy, the operational manager and the branch director, who had the obligation to verify, control and final authorize the execution of the banking transaction.

In relation to the other citizens under investigation, EQ, ID, EK and BM, the personal security measure 'Suspension of the exercise of a public duty or service' was requested and accepted for the criminal offense 'Computer forgery'. The investigation resulted in these citizens having carried out banking operations and transactions in conditions where a contract was missing in one or several cases, creating the premises for the exercise of illegal activity by the other aforementioned subjects who, by abusing their duties, have stolen property. /CNA