Fake 'Anas' arrested

A young man who posed as a member of the team of the ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has been nabbed by the police. Joseph Osei, allegedly collected Ghc12, 200 from two companies based in Tema and Accra.

The Adabraka police told The Ghanaian Times on Saturday that Osei had defrauded numerous companies in the name of Mr Anas.

The Times gathered that the collected huge sums of money from the companies with the promise to influence Anas to stop investigations into their activities.

The Adabraka Crime Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DESP), Ebenezer Nketia, said Osei took advantage of his relationship with the staff of the Tiger Eye Company of Anas and managed to break into the company’s laptop.

He also stole the company’s letter head which he (Osei) used in forging documents by fixing names of companies which Anas was investigating.

Osei then sent text messages to the companies informing them that Anas was investigating their dealings and offered to help to have the investigations halted.

He blackmailed and succeeded in collecting various sums of money from them.

DSP Nketia said one of Osei victims said her received several anonymous text messages that if he did not desist from his “fraudulent activities”, he (Osei) together with Anas would expose him.

According to him, Osei then called him on phone and threatened that if he did not bring the money, he would destroy his image.

DSP Nketia said Anas and his outfit had a tip-off that Osei was forging documents with his company’s name, and advised him to desist from his activities, but he denied knowledge of the said activities.

According to the Police Commander, when Osei was arrested, he admitted the offence.