In a shocking betrayal, a man has been sentenced to six months in prison for stealing thousands of dinars from his ailing aunts’ accounts. The court also ordered him to pay BD450 as temporary compensation to his aunts, who suffer from poor health. The case came to light when one of the aunts attempted to withdraw money from her bank account, only to find it empty. Further investigation revealed that BD24,000 was missing from the accounts of both women. Their brother filed the case against the man, who pleaded not guilty and claimed he was managing their finances at their request.
The incident began in 2020 when the man took one of his aunts to the bank to sign documents, without her fully understanding the purpose. The fraud was uncovered in February 2023 when the missing funds were discovered upon an attempted withdrawal. The defendant had been transferring money from his aunts’ accounts using the Benefit app without their consent. Despite promising to sell his car to repay the money, the defendant failed to fulfill this promise. The bank filed a complaint after the defendant did not return the money as agreed.
The man initially claimed the transfers were made with his aunts’ consent, but further investigation revealed that new users were registered on the Benefit app each month using the victim’s phone number, confirming the fraudulent activity. The betrayal has devastated the women and highlights the importance of vigilance and trust when managing finances, especially for those in vulnerable health conditions. This case serves as a reminder to always be cautious and ensure that financial affairs are secure and transparent.
One of the aunts, a 61-year-old retired woman, testified to discovering the missing funds and finding only 4,000 dinars remaining out of the total 20,000 dinars in her account. A bank official testified that the withdrawals were made to the defendant’s account using the Benefit app, leading to the freezing of his account. The man’s plea for leniency and apologies to his second aunt were dismissed after he failed to return the stolen funds as promised.
The court’s decision to sentence the man to prison for his deceitful actions serves as a warning to others who may attempt to exploit vulnerable individuals for personal gain. This case emphasizes the importance of transparency and trust in financial matters, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals who may not fully understand the implications of their actions. It is a reminder to always be vigilant and cautious when entrusting others with financial responsibilities, and to seek help or report any suspicious activity immediately.
The defendant’s actions have left a lasting impact on his aunts, who have been left in a precarious financial situation due to his betrayal. The man’s plea for forgiveness fell on deaf ears, as the court deemed his actions to be a breach of trust and a violation of his duty to safeguard his aunts’ finances. This case underscores the need for stricter safeguards and oversight when entrusting others with financial responsibilities, especially in cases where vulnerable individuals are involved. The ruling serves as a warning to potential offenders that fraudulent activities will not be tolerated and will be met with legal consequences.
