Trader nabbed for posing as woman

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - A 21-year-old man who allegedly posed as a woman and succeeded in defrauding a British national of 12,200 dollars under the pretext of processing his travelling documents has been nabbed by the police.

Samiru Yakubu is said to have sent a lady's photograph with the name Monica Abdulai through correspondence on the internet to join Ashburn Harrigan, the complainant, who was his pen pal.

A Police source said in November 2005, Harrigan received an e-mail from one Monica Abdulai claiming to be a Ghanaian lady who wanted him as a pen pal and therefore sent him "her photograph".

During one of Monica's correspondence, the source said, she told Harrigan that "she" wanted to join him at Virgin Island and that "she" needed some moneys to assist in preparing the travelling documents. The source said "Monica" succeeded in collecting 4,700 dollars from Harrigan

The source said when "Monica's" time was due to travel to Virgin Island, "she" informed Harrigan that "she" had been arrested by Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) for transporting gold without genuine documents and "she" needed 7,500 dollars so that the gold could be released to "her".

In order to collect the money, "Monica" collected the photographs of a witness in the case and forged an Identity Card bearing the name of Monica Adbulai and collected the 7,500 dollars.

On December 22, 2005, "she" requested for additional 4,500 dollars to renew the ticket and visa, which had expired.

The source said the police was alerted and when "Monica" went for the 4,500 dollars she was arrested. During interrogation, Yakubu admitted posing as Monica and that he had no intention of travelling outside.