Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 17: It is learnt that Grace Fernandes, a resident of Mahatmanagar Bondel in the city and employed with Andhra Bank Hampankatta branch here, has been suspended from service, on charges of defrauding bank customers to the extent of several lacs of rupees. The policemen with whom a complaint has been filed in this connection say that she is absconding and efforts are on to trace her.
It is alleged that in addition to Theresa D'Souza from Kavoor Mahatmanagar, Grace Fernandes has cheated several other customers of her bank.
Theresa D'Souza had handed over money to Grace in the year 2006, for investing two lac rupees in four term deposit receipts of Rs 50,000 each. When she went to the bank recently to collect the maturity proceeds, she learnt to her dismay that no such accounts exist in the bank’s records.
In another incident, a customer had made fixed deposits of Rs 52,150 each in two accounts in the year 2007. In the certificates which were manually written, the amounts have been correctly mentioned. However, in the computerized accounts maintained by the bank, these amounts are shown as mere Rs 2,150.
An account opened by a customer with the bank in the year 2007 through Grace Fernandes now stands in some other person's name.
In two term deposit accounts opened in 2003 at the Bejai extension counter of the bank for Rs 50,000 each, the computer print-outs show the amounts as Rs 5,000 each.
There have been cases in which the accounts opened in Hampankatta branch of the bank through Grace were transferred to Bejai extension counter and again transferred back to Hampankatta branch later. Not only the cash, in certain cases, even the account payee cheques issued have been misused. There have been allegations that a few customers who kept their gold ornaments in the bank were cheated.
If a clerk can so easily access the bank's fixed deposit receipts, pass books, seals and other records, what safety and security a customer of the bank can rely on for the money he has kept with the bank?, questions Theresa D'Souza.