Kidnapped Ghanaian Rescued By Interpol

A joint operation by Interpol and the Ghana Police Service in four European countries has led to the release of a 41-year-old Ghanaian marketing officer from the clutches of a syndicate operating across Europe.

Mr Godfred Obese Frimpong of Akoko Goldfields Limited was kidnapped in Amsterdam, the Netherlands while he was on a business trip last month.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including a former Zairean heavyweight boxer, a Scottish, Charles Johnstone and a West Indian, Dwight B.T. Anderson. The identities of the other two are yet to be established.

The syndicate operated in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands and France, sources close to Interpol Ghana told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday.

The sources said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 200,000 dollars to be provided within 48 hours but they subsequently agreed on 50,000 pounds to be paid by Akoko Goldfields Limited.

Police said early this year, Anderson who had a British passport introduced himself to Mr Maxwell Aboagye Frimpong, Chief Executive of Akoko Goldfields at Abuakwa in the Eastern Region and elder brother of Godfred, as an investor interested in investing in mining.

He was taken round the concession of the company in the Kibi-Winneba belt after which he was given a sample of gold dust, which he took to London.

The source said Anderson returned and confirmed that it was of good quality and expressed the desire to purchase 50 kilogrammes.

Police said at this juncture, Mr Aboagye Frimpong asked Anderson and his partner, Johnstone to pay upfront for the consignment. They agreed and offered to pay with their credit cards but Mr Aboagye Frimpong refused.

The two parties agreed that Mr Obese Frimpong should fly to Amsterdam for the money while the consignment was being conveyed to the Netherlands.

Mr Obese Frimpong flew to the Netherlands and checked in at Ibis Hotel where he was contacted by Anderson and Johnstone.

While, in Amsterdam, Mr Obese Frimpong said he became suspicious of the two men and phoned his brother in Ghana and informed him.

Mr Aboagye Frimpong had a call from Anderson demanding a ransom of 200,000 dollars within 48 hours if he wanted to see his brother alive. After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to 50,000 pounds.

Mr Aboagye Frimpong accordingly informed Interpol Ghana which contacted their UK, Belgium and Netherlands partners.

Meanwhile, Anderson and Johnstone lured Mr Obese Frimpong into a four-wheel drive vehicle with the excuse that since their negotiations had stalled they wanted to purchase an air ticket for Mr Aboagye Frimpong to join them in Amsterdam.

In the vehicle, he was blindfolded and gagged and driven to Belgium. The blindfold was taken off when they approached checkpoints till they got to the Belgian city of Liege. He was tortured while in the vehicle apparently to keep him quiet.

He was moved around apartments in Liege under the guidance of a group of Zairians led by the former heavyweight boxer.

The Police said through collaboration with Interpol the apartment was located. The Belgian police feigned an earthquake around the apartment and the occupants of the building rushed out.

Some 300 Belgian policemen who had cordoned off the area arrested all occupants for screening.

Mr Obese Frimpong was then freed and he identified two of his captors and gave out the registration number of the car they were using.

The British police who had been tailing Anderson immediately arrested him in London while French police arrested Johnstone in Marseilles after he fled Belgium in the vehicle that they used.

Police said the suspects would be tried in the Netherlands.