(AFP Photo)
An HSBC bank branch manager was beaten by a group of military officers following an argument between bank employees and an officer on Sunday.
Hani Abbas Oweida, manager of the HSBC El Obour Buildings branch, was taken to the military prosecution after he and the rest of the branch’s male staff members were beaten by a group of army Special Forces officers.
Oweida was taken in for questioning as a witness and released without charge. A military source confirmed to Daily News Egypt that the officers are now facing an investigation by the military prosecution.
An HSBC employee who requested anonymity told Daily News Egypt the problem started when a Special Forces officer walked into the bank and requested to withdraw EGP 240,000.
Bank cashiers told him that due to the large amount of money he was withdrawing, they would give him EGP 40,000 of it in small bills.
The officer was unhappy at accepting the amount in small bills. A man standing next to him offered to go exchange the cash for larger bills at a nearby foreign exchange, to which the officer agreed, believing the man to be a bank employee.
The man never returned with the money and when the officer asked what was taking so long, the bank employees told him that the man did not work for them. Indeed the bank employees thought he was with the officer.
The officer demanded the bank refund the stolen EGP 40,000 and when the employees refused he called in a group of his comrades who proceeded to beat every male employee and rip their clothes.
Military policemen eventually arrived on scene and took Oweida and the Special Forces officers to a military prosecution office.
Two other independent sources within HSBC confirmed the incident to Daily News Egypt, both requesting anonymity.
HSBC spokesperson Rolla Noseir told Daily News Egypt she could not comment on the matter before the authorities conclude their investigation.
“What is important is that all of our clients and staff are safe,” said Noseir.
Additional reporting by Nouran El-Behairy
