Thiruvananthpuram ATM skimming case: One arrested, three may have fled country

Thiruvananthapuram: While the police arrested one suspect in the hi-tech ATM theft from Mumbai, they strongly suspect that three other members of the gang had already left the country.

Romanian Gabriel Marian Ilie, 27, was picked up from a hotel in Mumbai soon after he made yet another round of looting cash through an ATM on Tuesday evening.The location of Ilie was traced with the help of information provided by a hotel where the gang stayed.

The police also received clue about location of the gang after a city-based college lecturer, Arun M. got a message on his mobile phone that Rs 100 of the Rs 144 balance available in his SBI account was withdrawn through an ATM in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

Among the two other members of the gang, visas of Cristian Victor Constantin, 26, expired on July 19. However, Bogdean Florian Floreci, 25, was having a valid visa till December 16. Ilie's visa is also valid until September 9. Another Romanian named Andrei was also associated with the gang and all the three were suspected to have left for Romania in July itself, police sources said. “We would seek the Interpol help in the probe,” said Mr Behera.

Meanwhile, police produced Ilie at a metropolitan court in Mumbai and got his custody for transit. The Mumbai police was also probing the involvement of the gang in a similar ATM looting last year. “We are still not sure how many members were involved in the gang or whether they got any local support,” said the state police chief.