The six Chinese nationals allegedly involved in the ATM scam in Lautoka, appeared before Magistrate Raramasi Salakubou at the Magistrates Court in Lautoka on Dec. 11.

The accused persons Sanlin Xie, Chanbao Xie, Li Chinling, Zong Chenhua, Weiqiang Liu and Yanyan Yang have been charged with theft and dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information.

A tip was provided by a taxi driver last Sunday at the Lautoka Police Station that the group was seen conducting several suspicious withdrawals in the area.

The court heard that the accused persons had arrived in Fiji from China on December 3; they allegedly committed the offence on December 6 and were to return to China on December 7.

Police prosecutor ASP Anil Prasad said Police had seized 384 ATM cards from the accused persons which included BSP, Westpac and ANZ cards.

It is alleged that more than FJ$22,807 has been recovered from the accused persons.

In his submission, Mr Prasad said it was in the interest of the accused if they were remanded in a confined place away from society in order for Police to continue investigations and for an interpreter to be provided as the accused persons did not speak English.

Magistrate Salakubou said that the court would take Mr Prasad’s submission into consideration in terms of the need for an interpreter and considering the seriousness of the offence.

Magistrate Salakubou ruled for the accused persons to be remanded and for the matter to be heard on December 24, 2015 at the Magistrates Court in Lautoka.