Four Arrested For Producing Fake Lotto Coupons

Four persons who allegedly faked machines and coupons used by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) have been arrested by the police. The suspects, who were arrested at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region, are Felix Kyeh Eninn, alias Wofa Yaw, Yaw Kumi, Edmund Ababio, alias Teacher Koofie, and Evans Damptey, alias Wallace. The machines, similar to those being used by the NLA, were said to have been imported from China. According to the Public Relations Officer of the CID, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Joseph Benefo Darkwa, in February, this year, the NLA received information from its managers from the Western Region that they had sighted some illegal lottery coupons on sale. He said some officers were, therefore, dispatched to the region to buy some of the coupons for examination and they turned out to be fake. Armed with this piece of information, the NLA then reported the case at the CID headquarters in Accra and a team of personnel was dispatched to the Western Region to identify the persons behind the operation of the illegal lotto. On March 23, 2013 the team, after thorough investigations, arrested Yaw Kumi, Edmund Ababio and Evans Damptey in their respective lotto kiosks selling the fake lotto coupons. The machines they were using were impounded, but following interrogations they claimed to be agents working for Felix Kyeh Eninn, who they claimed was the owner of the machines. They explained further to the police that they worked on commission basis as Felix always went round daily to collect the proceeds from the sale of the fake coupons and gave them 30 per cent of whatever they had sold. The three agents then led the police to Felix�s house, where he was arrested and a search conducted on him led to the retrieval of five of the fake machines. Mr Darkwa said upon interrogation Felix told police investigators that he imported 100 pieces of the machines from China. As of the time of his arrest, Felix had already distributed 35 pieces of the machines to lotto writers in Sefwi Wiawso, Juabuso and Dadieso all in the Western Region.