‘Pastor Otabil boys’ arrested

TWO persons have been arrested by the Accra Regional Police Command for using the name and picture of Pastor Dr Mensa Otabil, Head Pastor of International Central Gospel Church, to defraud people.

The suspects – Michael Opoku Adusei, 24, who is unemployed and Richmond Brown aka Romeo, a student – both members of the church, allegedly opened a charity account using the man of God’s name to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Briefing Daily Guide, Sergeant Bright Kwabena Danso, Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said personnel in charge of the church’s Information Communication Technology detected that some unscrupulous persons had opened a facebook account using the name and picture of Pastor Mensa Otabil to solicit funds to support children suffering from cancer.

He said two account numbers were provided by the suspects, directing donors to send monies through those accounts for the poor children in 2012.

But checks on the accounts which were separately opened at the Dansoman branch of Ecobank and Prudential bank revealed the suspects’ names. Early this year, the church authorities reported the matter to the police for investigations.

While investigations were ongoing, Michael, on Wednesday December 18, 2013, attempted to withdraw some money from the Ecobank account and was arrested.

Upon interrogation, Michael admitted to the offence and mentioned the name of Richard Brown as his accomplice and the brain behind the scheme.

The police subsequently arrested Richard from his hideout at Kaneshie the same day. Both men are in police cells assisting in police investigations.