3 Fraudsters Nabbed

Timothy Asare, a 44-year-old man, who posed as a Senior Police Officer with the name DSP Amoako and attempted to defraud a Russian national of an amount of GH�70,000, has been arrested by the Accra Regional Police Command. The suspect, Asare, who allegedly told the complainant that he was stationed at Interpol Department of the Police Headquarters, was apprehended together with two of his accomplices � Frank Amankwah, 48 and Samuel Obeng, 40 � both traders residing at Weija in Ga South District of the Greater Accra Region. The three are now in police custody assisting in investigations. Briefing the media at a press conference, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Timothy Yoosa Bonga, the said the suspects were apprehended on June 1, 2014, behind the Police Headquarters building. The complainant, Marina Kovshova, a 33-year-old Russian national received a call from Asare who identified himself as DSP Amoako at Police Interpol. According to the complainant, DSP Amoako called to inform her that he was investigating a case of fraud levelled against her by one Raz. �DSP Amoako allegedly told the complainant that she had defrauded Raz of an amount of one million dollars in a gold deal,� ACP Bonga said. DSP Amoako then asked the complainant to report to him at his office at the Police Headquarters for the case to be resolved amicably. The complainant said the suspect also asked her to bring along an amount of GH�70,000 so case would not be published in the media and she would not be deported from Ghana. The complainant, who knew she had not committed any offence, reported the incident to her lawyer who informed the national security operatives to track the said police officer. The victim was then advised to feign interest in the deal and cooperate with the said DSP Amoako. On June 1, 2014, around 3:00pm, DSP Amoako directed the victim to meet him behind the Police Headquarters with the money. The victim went to the agreed location on that fateful day but under the surveillance of the national security operatives. The three then went to park their vehicle at a distance while Frank Amankwah was sent to meet the complainant for the money. In an attempt to collect the money from the victim, Amoako was apprehended. He also led the national security operatives to apprehend DSP Amoako and Samuel Obeng who were waiting in the vehicle for Amankwah.