Kumasi police bust car fraud syndicate

Source: Daily Graphic Ghana - Three of five fraudsters who lure unsuspecting car buyers into their scheme and bolt with the vehicle after payment have been arrested by the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

The five developed a complex, syndicated fraudulent scheme involving some vehicle renting companies and some car owners and succeeded in defrauding several people in Accra and Kumasi.

Those arrested are Joseph Osei, 63; Kwabena Boakye, 39 and Yaw Koranteng, 27 years, with Evelyn Prempeh and David Appiah, said to be accomplices, on the run.

Briefing the media in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye said in August 28, 2015, Mr Gideon Afriyie Tuffuor saw a Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GR 1938-14 with a “for sale” inscription displayed on it and expressed interest to buy it.

He said the victim called the cellular number accompanying the advert and spoke to David Appiah who directed him to call Kwabena Boakye but Boakye also told the victim that the vehicle belonged to his wife, Evelyn Prempeh.

He explained that Boakye quoted the price of the car as GHC21, 500 but Mr Tuffuor offered to pay Gh¢17, 500 which was agreed.

DCOP Boakye said when the victim said he was ready with the cash he was asked to meet them at the Bomso Junction in Kumasi but before the owner of the vehicle, Evelyn would reach the meeting place, Boakye sought permission and left the place to visit someone at the KNUST Hospital.

Just then Evelyn Prempeh and David Appiah arrived and the amount was handed over to Evelyn and in return one of the ignition keys was given to the victim. 

David Appiah told the victim to wait while he brought the spare ignition key from Kwabena Boakye.

“Just when he left, the Mr Tuffuor (the victim) and his friend went to where the vehicle was parked but it was nowhere to be found and several calls placed to those he had been dealing with did not go through. He then complained to the police”.

Mr Boakye said on September 2, 2015, Mr Tuffuor spotted a Honda Civic car with registration number GR 8821-14 with “for sale” on it and asked his friend to call to feign interest.

It was agreed that they should meet at Aboabo for the transaction and while there, Boakye pulled up and sat behind the steering wheel and told the friend to buy the vehicle.

He said the friend who feigned interest managed to take pictures of Boakye which he showed to the complainant to see if he was the same person and when they concluded that it was the same person he was arrested.

Boakye later assisted the police to apprehend the two others.