Fugitive fraudster nabbed

Police have arrested a 35-year-old man, who has been on police wanted list for the past six months, for defrauding a construction company to the tune of GH¢89,000.

The suspect, Godwin King Kofi Annan allegedly wrote to the construction firm to supply him with cement and iron rods for the construction of houses under the affordable housing project but ended up bolting with the items.

He was arrest by the Tema Police on June 5, 2013 and handed over to the Adenta Police where the crime was committed.

Narrating the story to the media, DSP Stephen K. Ahiatafu, the Adenta District Police Commander, said the suspect committed the crime in November last year.

The complainant, whose company is into the sale of iron rods, cement and other building materials, advertised the goods on Google Trader.

The suspect, upon getting the telephone number of the company on the internet, entreated the complainant to supply him with some cement and iron rods for his project.

The suspect told the complainant that he had won the bid from government to construct a number of houses under the affordable housing project at Oyarifa, near Adenta.

Godwin asked the complainant to supply him with 10,000 bags of cement for the start and promised to pay the money immediately the items were delivered.

On November 16, 2012, the complainant delivered the first consignment of 500 bags of cement to the suspect at Nmai Dzorn, but the money was not paid.

One Owusu, who received the first items, collected the invoice for Godwin and asked the victim to return the following day for his money.

The following day, Godwin called for another consignment, which he received himself and again collected an invoice and asked the complainant to come for all the money the next day November 20, 2012.

On that day, the victim met Godwin and one Nana Boateng aka Honourable at Dzorwulu where they paid GH¢10,000 and promised to pay the remaining money later.

The two also urged the victim to supply the items and not worry since all money owned him would be paid immediately government released funds.

Instantly they ordered the victim to supply them with 12 tons of iron rods which he did through his workers.

The victim continued to supply the suspect with the items to the tune of GH¢89,000.

When the time came for the suspect to pay the money, he offered excuses.

Investigations by the complainant later revealed that the suspect was a known fraudster, and so he reported the matter to the police on January 2, 2013.

Godwin, upon realizing the police had mounted a search for him, went into hiding.

With the help of the Tema Police, he was arrested on June 5 and handed over to the Adenta Police to assist in further investigations.