419 Gangsters Nabbed

Three gangsters including a 50-year-old man who attempted to defraud an elder of Word Miracle Church at Twifo Praso in the Central Region have been arrested by the Weija District Police Command. The suspects are Benjamin Turkson aka Joe, 30, Reindoff Owusu aka Nana, 35 and Robert Boateng aka Bob, 50. The modus operandi of the three was to pretend to be car dealers looking for prospective buyers. Victims who contacted the suspects were made to make a part payment of the choice of vehicle, after which they bolted with the victims� money. The three used this method to defraud the elder (name withheld) of an amount of GH�8,000, after which they went into hiding. Commenting on how the elder of the Word Miracle Church was defrauded to DAILY GUIDE, ASP Alex A Kwarteng, the Weija District Crime Officer, said on August 10, 2012, the victim came to Accra from Twifo Praso for a church programme. While in Accra, the victim saw a Mitsubishi 4�4 vehicle with a contact number of the owner being mounted for sale. The victim, who wanted the vehicle for church activities, immediately called the number pasted on the vehicle to bargain for the price. Suspect Reindoff, who answered the call from the victim, urged the victim to see him immediately. The two agreed on a price of GH�15,000 but with an arrangement that the victim make an initial payment of GH�8,000, take the vehicle and pay the balance later. The money was paid by the victim that same day at the house of Reindoff at Tetegah. While the transaction was going on in the sitting room of Reindoff, the two others, Benjamin and Robert, came inside to greet them, after which they secretly moved the vehicle away. After the money was paid, Reindoff excused himself to go and fetch the documents of the vehicle but secretly jumped through a window and escaped. The victim, who later realized that he had been defrauded, reported the matter to the police. On August 19, 2012, police arrested Benjamin upon a tip-off at toll booth area. Benjamin consequently led the police to arrest the other suspects at their hideout. Police information later revealed that the house that they took the victim to was not Reindoff�s but Benjamin�s. The information also revealed that when Reindoff escaped through the window, he went to meet the others for the money to be shared. The three admitted to the offence but pleaded to pay the amount collected. The suspects are being prepared to be sent to court later.