Police arrest and detain wanted fraudster

The suspected kingpin of a criminal gang, that has been swindling innocent car buyers in Kumasi of their money, has been arrested and being held by the police.

Nana Osei Nyarko Amponsah, 62, and his accomplices, reportedly duped eight people of cash totaling GH?150,000 in just one month – last September.

He has been on the police wanted list for some time and has been operating with his criminal colleagues, three of them were recently nabbed, from Accra.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kofi Boakye, the Ashanti Regional Commander, told a news briefing in Kumasi, that the gang would place a vehicle on sale to bait buyers.

They would convince the unsuspecting victim into believing that the owner of the car had either been hospitalized or badly needed money to settle a debt.

They would then negotiate the price and send the prospective buyer to inspect the car.

DCOP Kofi Boakye said after collecting the negotiated amount of money they would escape with both the cash and car.

He vowed to make sure that Amponsah was prosecuted and punished for his alleged crime.

He advised people looking for cars to buy to go to the accredited garages and to also make sure these were covered by valid documents before any payment was made.

The Regional Police Commander warned garage owners against conniving with fraudsters.