Police to seek HDO vs Iranian nationals in bank robbery

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), has directed Police Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Mead, chief of San Carlos City Police Station, to request a hold departure order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) against two Iranian nationals involved in a bank robbery last Dec 2, 2019.

Baleros said the foreign nationals identified as businessmen Ali Shajarat, and Mehran Adineh, both 41, of Iran are facing theft charges after they allegedly robbed P100,000 cash from a client inside a bank in San Carlos City.

“Our dilemma is if they will fly back to Iran after they post bail, that’s why I directed the police chief to send a letter-request to the BI to prohibit them from traveling while they are facing a criminal complaint in the province,” the provincial police director added.

The incident happened Monday when one of the suspects reportedly approached a 24-year-old assistant manager of a remittance center inside the bank.

The victim was counting the money at the tellers’ area when the suspect distracted him while the other suspect allegedly took the bundle of money.

The bank manager witnessed the incident, prompting the security guards to hold the two foreign nationals.

When the manager confronted the suspects, one of them was reportedly seen dropping the bundle of money. Both suspects were arrested by the responding cops.

“Parang salisi kasi ang nangyari. We don’t know if it’s their modus and if they really had a transaction inside the bank when it happened,” Baleros said.

He said they do not know the reason of the foreigners’ stay here.