Imphal, October 29: The proscribed UNLF has asked two persons, accused of embezzling Rs 6,70,000 from the Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank by forging the signatures of some account holders, to surrender to the outfit within five days time or to face the death penalty.

The two accused are named as Y Iboyaima (57) Sub-Accountant (under suspension presently) of Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai and his son-in-law Thingnam Ranjan alias John (40) a Contractor, son of Th Girani of Thangmeiband Kabrabam Leikai, DM College Gate.

Giving the details of the case to some media persons at Bishnupur district today, Investigating Officer, CSF, 2nd Lt Chenglei said that the case dates back to December 2003 wherein the amount of Rs 6,70,000 were withdrawn fraudulently on December 2, 24 and 31 from the MG Avenue branch of Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank.

Though internal departmental inquiries were conducted, the guilty could not be nailed, said the Investigating Officer and added that the UNLF took up the case and deputed a Central Special Force to probe the case.

For 12 full days, that is from April 17, 2006 till May 12 the same year, the CSF conducted a thorough inquiry and interrogated a number of employees of the bank.

The employees who were quizzed included the branch manager, N Nimai, P Khogendra, Accountant, Y Iboyaima, Sub-Accountant, A Biramangol, Grade IV, T Gouramohan, Grade IV, L Damudor, Assistant, L Phajaton, Assistant, L Chandrajit.

The Investigating Officer of the outfit further said that after closely studying the testimonials of the employees, Y Iboyaima was picked up as a suspect and he disclosed that he was behind the forgery cases.

In his confession to the outfit, Y Iboyaima said that he was dire financial straits as both his daughters got married in 1994.As he was deep in debt, Iboyaima said that he started entertaining the idea of fraudulently withdrawing money from the bank to pay off his debts.

Quoting Iboyaima, the Investigating Officer said that he first approached a friend from Uripok to become a party to his scheme, but the friend refused.

It was then that Iboyaima decided to contact someone close to him and decided on consulting Th Ranjan who is a Contractor.

Iboyaima conveyed his plan to Ranjan with the information that he had two cheques with him.

Since Ranjan was doing contract, he was also in need of some money and he agreed to the plan to forge the cheques and withdraw the money.

Accordingly on December 2, 2003, Ranjan went to the bank with the forged cheques and withdrew Rs 5 lakhs in the name of one Y Arunkumar.

Iboyaima confessed that as the first passing officer he okayed the cheques, though he knew it was forged.

From the Rs 5 lakhs, Iboyaima said he received Rs 2 lakhs while Ranjan got Rs 3 lakhs.

Again on December 24, Ranjan with another forged cheque withdrew Rs 70,000, said Iboyaima, though he did not receive any cut this time.

The next instance was on December 31, wherein Th Ranjan withdrew Rs 1 lakh through a forged signature, said Iboyaima and added that the money was divided equally between them.

In confessional statement to the outfit, Th Ranjan also admitted to all the misdoings, said the Investigating Officer.

The two were asked to return the amount to the bank and till December 2006, they had returned about Rs 3 lakhs, but the remaining Rs 3,60,000 are yet to be paid.

Instead of co-operating with the outfit, the father-in-law and his son-in-law started spreading the canards that they were forced to confess, said the Investigating Officer and added that since they have been absconding.

The local meira paibis have been apprised of the matter, said the Investigating Officer and added that if the two do not turn themselves in within five days, then they would be awarded the capital punishment.

The case was not made public all these years, because, UNLF wanted to protect the image of IUCB.

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