Police arrest four over Sakawa deal
The police in Kumasi have arrested four suspects in Kumasi for trying to swindle a Brazilian based in Greece through Internet fraud, popularly known as Sakawa.
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They are Isaac Boakye Yiadom, the leader of the group; Richard Addai, Gideon Kyeremateng and Stephen Oppong, a taxi driver.
The four were arrested when they went to meet a supposed courier sent by the Brazilian to collect some money to enable ‘her’ to join him in Greece.
Yiadom posed as a woman on the Internet and lured the Brazilian to send him $2,150 to enable ‘her’ to join him in Greece.
He is alleged to have downloaded a picture of a pornography star from the Internet and presented it as ‘her’ to lure the Brazilian.
Forged invoice
To convince his Brazilian boyfriend, Yiadom forged the letterhead of a travel and tour company based in Kumasi to prepare an invoice that he sent to him to request for the money.
However, the Brazilian, Dionisio Karmakis, who became suspicious, contacted the travel and tour company through its online address and the company confirmed that the invoice did not emanate from its office.
Together with the travel agency, the Brazilian hatched a plan to get the suspect and his accomplices arrested.
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Briefing the press in Kumasi, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Osei Ampofo Duku said investigations revealed that Yiadom, in early May this year, befriended the Brazilian through a female picture he had posted on the Internet.
He said Karmakis, who became interested in the suspect and wanted ‘her’ to join him in Greece, asked ‘her’ to look for a travel agent to facilitate the trip.
Feign interest
ACP Duku said after realising that the suspect was out to dupe him, Karmakis feigned interest in the arrangement and told Yiadom that he was sending money through Whirlpool Company to him.
He said Yiadom was given the mobile phone number of a member of staff of the travel company.
Mr Duku said around 11:30 a.m. on May 12, 2015, the official called Yiadom to meet her at the Kumasi Airport for the money, as she was in town to supply some products to clients.
Arrest
Yiadom, in the company of his wife, Abigail Nyarko; Addai, Kyeramateng and Oppong, the taxi driver, went to the airport for the money.
He said at the airport, Yiadom made his wife to meet the woman at a restaurant where the woman gave Abigail GH¢2,000.
He said it was at that point that the police swooped on them and arrested them.
Abigail later led the police to arrest Yiadom and the other accomplices who were waiting in a taxi.