Adentan - Two individuals suspected of being part of a syndicate that defrauded traders and businesses through internet scams have been apprehended and remanded into police custody by an Adentan Circuit Court. The suspects, Kingsford Adjetey, a painter from Kasoa, and Kofi Isaah, a dispatch rider from Ablekumah, faced charges of conspiracy to defraud and defrauding by false pretenses, to which they pleaded not guilty.
According to Ghana News Agency, who led the prosecution, the accused were involved in a scheme that defrauded a woman of GHC 16,000 worth of frozen foods. They were eventually caught when they attempted to use a similar fraudulent tactic on a sister company of the initial victim. The accused are scheduled to reappear in court on December 12.
The complainant in the case, Anita Owusu, a journalist residing in East Legon, also trades in frozen foods, which she advertises on the Jiji online platform. On October 23, 2023, a third accomplice, Philip, who is currently at large, contacted Owusu and placed an order for frozen products worth GHC36,420. He instructed her to deliver the goods to Weija barrier, promising to make the payment upon delivery.
Following Philip's directions, the complainant met with Adjetey and Isaah, who took GHC16,000 worth of goods under the guise of transporting them to the final delivery point. However, at a traffic intersection, Isaah unexpectedly sped off on his motorbike, leaving the complainant behind. Subsequent attempts to contact Philip were futile as his phone was turned off, leading to a police report being filed at the East Legon Police Station.
The prosecutor explained that using the same method, the accused later ordered frozen food from a sister company to be delivered at Kwashieman. Their luck ran out when they were recognized by the initial complainant while receiving the goods, leading to their arrest. Although the accused admitted to the offense upon their arrest, they have not cooperated in leading the police to Philip, the mastermind of the operation.
The prosecution stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Philip, as the case continues to unfold.