The Documentation and Visa Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has in its grips a 41-year-old man for allegedly defrauding a businessman of $25,000 under the pretext of supplying him with some herbal products.
The suspect, David Appiah, claimed the product was in high demand in the United States, and presented some powdered substance to the victim, which was later found out to be ground dried leaves with no herbal value.
The suspect was in the process of defrauding another victim of $7,500 when the law caught up with him.
Unknown to the suspect, his second victim was the son of his first.
The Director in charge of the Documentation and Visa Fraud Unit, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Seth Sewornu, stated that the complainant received a telephone call from an unknown person who introduced himself as Enoch, an old friend.
The caller said he introduced himself as a businessman who needed to secure a pharmaceutical product called ‘sinappi' for a United States of America-based pharmaceutical company.
Suspect told the complainant that he needed him to be the local supplier to supply the US-based company with the said pharmaceutical product.
Additionally, Mr Sewornu said Appiah claimed the US-based company had a financial controller who worked with the United State Embassy in Accra and was prepared to receive the products.
Appiah is said to have, therefore, asked the victim to contact one Nana Arhin, who is also into the sale of the said ‘Sinappi’ products, for supplies.
DSP Sewornu said on May 29 this year a man who introduced himself only as Owusu called and met the victim with 66 packets of compressed leaves substances, which he claimed was the ‘sinappi’ product, and collected $25,000 from him.
The product later turned out to be valueless dry leaves, and all attempts by the victim to get the complainant on phone proved futile.
On August 16, he said the son of the complainant received a telephone call from another caller demanding $7,500 to supply him with a similar ‘sinappi’ product.
The young man, name withheld, knowing what happened to his dad, feigned interest and agreed to meet the supplier.
Appiah was subsequently arrested by the police while in the process of collecting money from the second victim after he had presented to him another dried leaves.
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