Bahraini High Criminal Court sentenced two Bulgarians, part of an international criminal gang, to seven year detention on charges of fraud, forgery and the use of forged credit cards to withdraw cash from ATM machines.

The Bulgarians installed cameras and electronic card readers in the ATMs to copy the users’ personal information. They made duplicates of the cards and stole money from bank accounts in several major banks, Gulf Daily News reported.

A partner of the Bulgarians abroad prepared the duplicates and sent them back to Bahrain.

The gang managed to withdraw more than $82 000 from different banks.

The Bulgarians were arrested red-handed in January 2006, Gulf Daily News said. Bank cameras shot them while installing the devices.

Police found and seized cameras, wires and batteries in the car of the sentenced men.

The Bulgarians will be deported after they serve their prison sentences.