Australian citizen assaulted & robbed in Bengaluru, one arrested

Bengaluru: Early morning on Thursday, a 38-year-old Australian CEO, who was on a business trip to Bengaluru has alleged that he was attacked by four men. The incident took place at Manyata Tech Park, three out of the four men came to him on the pretext of helping him. The CEO alleged that the police delayed in acting, the police however declined the accusations and said that one of the accused has been arrested.

The Australian, identified as Aso Hamzehei is a CEO of two Sydney-based companies. He was visiting Bengaluru for the first time. Valuables worth Rs. 1.8 lakh that included three bags, electronic gadgets, mobile phones, wallets and some other items were stolen from him, reported The Indian Express.

According to Hamzehei’s complaint, since May 23, he was staying at Fortune Inn Hotel. He said that the earlier the hotel management accepted online payment, however, later they insisted on cash payments. Hamzehei said that in order to open an account, he approached an MNC bank but they said it would take 45 days. He alleged that when he was unable to pay cash to the hotel, they asked him to vacate the room.

He said that it was around 2:30 am when the hotel staff threw him out. Three people came to his help but later those three people came again along with one other person and assaulted him and robbed him off his valuables.

Hamzehei futher said that he walked to the KG Halli police station after the incident but was directed to Govindpura police station. Even after 14 hours since the incident, the police did not register a case, said Hamzehei. A WhatsApp message narrating Hamzehei’s ordeal went viral on social media. The allegations were denied by Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Bheemashankar Guled, he said that the case was registered immediately, CCTV footage was also collected and a man identified as Syed Imran was arrested in the case.

Meanwhile, the manager at Fortune Inn Hotel, Jayaram said that Hamzehei did not pay his bills for 13 days. Jayaram said that a scuffle broke out and he suddenly came to check out. He was offered help by three men who took him to the police station, he went along with them on their two-wheeler. Later, when the police came to check the CCTV footage of the hotel, they got to know that he was robbed.