RP execs probe burglary at Dubai consulate

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine officials are conducting an internal investigation into a break-in at its consulate in Dubai last month where some Dh100,000 (US$27,000) was stolen from a safe.

UAE online news site The National on Sunday reported that Crescente Relacion, an official in Manila's foreign affairs department, spent five days investigating the burglary.

"Mr. Relacion spoke to consulate staff and asked about former staff members who used to sleep inside the consulate premises. We are waiting for the findings of the investigation," the site quoted a consulate source as saying.

The money, in cash and cheques, was in part collected from fees for services such as passport renewals.

It was taken from a safe in the office of the consulate's finance officer, whose passport was also stolen. The thieves struck Sept. 5, when consulate staff were off.

No one has been charged but the consulate's driver and janitor, identified only as "A.R.", is being held at the Muraqqabat police station for questioning.

The utility worker was detained after police learned he had a previous conviction in relation to an unpaid bank loan.

"Criminal investigations are still under way and we are doing all we can to catch the culprits. Investigations will continue until we have an end result," said a spokesman for Dubai Criminal Investigations.

According to the source at the consulate, the utility worker is under police custody not because of the burglary but because he has an unpaid bank loan.

The worker was also found to have overstayed in the country for more than 1,600 days after absconding from his employer, the source added.

Police have also questioned the finance officer and another driver from the consulate. The key to the safe and a piece of paper containing its combination were taken from the finance officer's desk. - GMANews.TV

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