Published: 8 July, 2008, 11:27
Edited: 8 July, 2008, 11:27
A Ukrainian businessman has taken drastic action against a bank which he claims owes him money. He resorted to some heavy industrial machinery in an attempt to recover the debt. However, his ploy might have backfired as the bank is now threatening to sue
In Chernovtsy in Ukraine a conflict over a rent payment between a bank and a businessman resulted in an unlikely siege. The businessman, annoyed by the bank’s refusal to pay rent for the premises the bank had leased from him, decided to take the matter in hand with the help of an excavator.
He didn't break into the bank’s depository. His strategy was a little more subtle. Early one morning an excavator belonging to the businessman drove up to the bank and blocked its only entrance to with the excavator’s bucket.
As the building had only one entrance, neither the bank’s employees nor clients could gain access to the bank, meaning the bank was unable to operate. For nearly a month, from June 6 until July 4, the besieged bank stopped operations.
Now that the siege has been lifted, though, the bank’s officials deny the very existence of the debt and are threatening the businessman with a lawsuit.