STATEMENT
October 7th, 2005
My name is Laila Sultan and this statement is in regards to what happened to me at Bank of America, Garden Grove Branch. I have been banking with Bank of America for thirteen years. I had a checking account and Safety Deposit Box with them, where I kept my very valuable jewelry that I have inherited from my Grandparents, and from my previous marriage. Some of this Jewelry was over a hundred and twenty years old , ” PRICELESS” and some was new jewelry from here in the United States.
On March 15, 2003 I went to the bank and went into my safe deposit box. I took out $2,000 from the $39,000 which was in my box and put back my diamond ring which I had taken out to wear earlier. I then counted the remaining money wrapped up the envelope, wrote down some notes of my cash balance on the envelope and gave the box back to the new girl accompanying me into the vault whom I had never seen before and was probably newly hired.
Once I reached home after a few minutes I realized that I had my car and house keys but I did not have my Safety Deposit Box key with me which I have always kept separately in a big crystal heart shaped key chain . This is a single key with the box number on it. I looked inside my car, my apartment and everywhere I could think of. My fiancé James Scott was also looking with me. First I called the bank but got no answers. I went back to the Bank but it was closed as it was Saturday.
On Monday, I went to the bank and spoke to some employees of the bank, a young oriental guy, and a young girl and was told by these employees of Bank of America that I should not worry because no one can get into my box without signing the authorization card and I should use my spare key next time. After the employee’s reassured me that my fears were unfounded and believing the system that Bank of America has in place as one of the largest banks in existence, I left confident that all was well.
The next time I was in the bank, I asked Mrs. Muller who works in the safety deposit box area if she or anyone else in the bank had found my key. She said no key was found thus far, but I shouldn’t be concerned once again explaining the banks security system.
When I went to the Bank on May 5, 2003 to deposit the rent and to take out some cash from my box, I took out my box and was escorted to the usual private cubicle. I opened the box and it was empty ,completely empty all the cash and jewelry was gone “EMPTY” except for one small white envelope which contained only minor paperwork, I started to scream, my hands were shaking I felt like I couldn’t breathe , I was angry, dizzy with all the thoughts of the employee’s telling me that all was well and felt as if I was in going into shock my heart was in my throat and it seemed as if all at once my face was hot and flushed with blood and then I went pale with the sobering realization of what had happened to me. In shock and shaking with anger I screamed for help to bank Manager Debbie McCowen .
I was immediately taken back by the fact that her usual friendly manner which was curiosly replaced by an aloof and unconcerned attitude. She could see how upset I was under the circumstances but offered no sympathy instead she angrily asked me to lower my voice, stop making a scene and leave the bank! She told me she didn’t know the rules in these circumstances and would have to get back with me after she spoke to her corporate office which I found not only offensive but deceptive and deliberate as she even directed me to the wrong police department telling me to go to Stanton Police Department instead of what I found out later was actually the correct police department which is Garden Grove .I was curious as to why she was so uncooperative, definitely not the usual demeanor of friendly customer service one would come the expect at a bank I have trusted for 13 years! In shock, shaking with anger I was obviously in no condition to drive so I called my fiancé’. While we went to the Garden Grove Police Department to file a report, Mrs McCowan was supposedly calling her corporate office, she stumbled around her responsibilities by exclaiming her confusion that she did not know what forms needed to be filled out, she could not find the forms and even gave me the wrong forms! Mrs. McCowan subsequently made us wait for one hour to find the right forms. She was very nervous, flushed and acted as if she was covering up something. She was acting as if this was her first day on the job and everything was suddenly a mystery to her, the usual bank procedure, filling forms, her mannerisms all were suspect as later during the polygraph test given by Garden Grove Police Department which I had passed 3 times it should come as no surprise that Mrs. McCowan was asked by the officer administering the test to why she was so nervous as her test revealed extreme stress and some deception. Her excuse was that her doctor had just advised her that she should take a leave of absence due to a sudden claim of “stress on the job” Obviously that would make sense under what I believe she was covering up as to the truth of what actually happened to my safety deposit box.
So, what happened to the bank security tape, or checking on local pawn shops, or the bank employees background checked but nothing was done everything was hushed and in a ridiculously short period of time (5 days) the bank had supposedly completed their big investigation, they did not even wait until Garden Grove Police finished their investigations which is still open. They also did not take any interest to look into how situation was overlooked in their efforts to hide the bank surveillance video which they never surrendered or into the crime itself. After all, why would one of the largest banks in existence need such bad publicity investigating their own employees perhaps uncovering what they knew very well it was an inside job!
“What is it that Bank of America is hiding? How many other good customers are out there with similar experiences as mine? Why are they getting away with this? How can we continue to allow them to let criminals run their corporation! I have had a safe deposit box everywhere I have lived; I have always kept a box for years and years. What Bank of America has done to me is unspeakable! They have ruined my life and my future by destroying any hope of recovering all that I have inherited throughout my life, the sentimental value alone is irreplaceable and financially it is not possible for me to recover from this after 3 years of fighting for my rights. As an immigrant entering the United States over 22 years ago and a citizen I have always taken pride in who I am as an American and what I have accomplished in a country that has embraced me in every way. But now B/A has turned their back on me and a blind eye to justice. Please help me win for all of us! If you have a similar experience or wish to express a complaint or support me by signing my “Justice for Laila Sultan Petition” Please feel free to call me at (949) 231-7876 or write me at Bank of America CRIMES website www.thecomplaintstation.com Or www.ripoffreport.com
Special Thanks to the supporters
Senator Joseph Dunn
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Diane Feinstein
Congressman Ed Royce
Los Amigos
LULAC
Arab Muslim, Latinos Communities
And Bubonic Family
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT & GOD BLESS YOU!
LAILA SULTAN