Kingpin of fraudsters arrested in Kumasi

A 62-year-old man believed to be the kingpin of a gang of fraudsters in the country has been apprehended by the police in Kumasi.

Nana Osei Nyarko has been on the police wanted list for a while and was arrested last Tuesday at the Manhyia Hospital when he tried to dupe another victim.

He is alleged to have defrauded five persons in the Kumasi metropolis this year alone to the tune of GH¢150,000 and is believed to have been in this business for more than 20 years.

Police briefing

Briefing the press, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Nathan Kofi Boakye, said the suspect and his accomplices usually approached their victims that they had a vehicle for sale and when the victims expressed interest, “they take them through processes under the pretext of helping them to acquire the right documents”.

According to him, the gang usually lured the unsuspecting clients to a place and made them to part with money after which they gave them defective keys to the vehicles.

In the latest instance, he said the suspect called the husband of the victim that he had  a Pontiac Vibe  for sale.

He said the husband sent the wife to inspect the car after which the couple decided to purchase it.

Subsequently, Mr Boakye said the suspect brought the victim to Manhyia Hospital to collect the documents to the vehicle.

Arrest

However, the suspect tried to abscond with the vehicle and the money but he was arrested.

The Commander said the suspect had been in and out of courts on numerous occasions and always jumped bail whenever he was granted bail.

According to DCOP Boakye, this time the police would build a strong case that would ensure his conviction and imprisonment.

Following his arrest, six of the victims have reported to the police and identified him as the one who had defrauded them of their money under the pretext of selling cars to them.