Crime & Punishment of Friday, 15 May 2015

Source: Daily Guide

Sakawa boys busted at K’si Airport

Isaac Boakye Yiadom, an alleged internet fraud (Sakawa) kingpin in Kumasi, who allegedly posed as a woman on the internet in an attempt to defraud a Brazilian, Dionisio Karmakis an amount of $2,150, has been busted.

The suspect, after allegedly convincing the Brazilian to sponsor his travel to Greece where Karmakis is based, reportedly forged an invoice of Africa Origin Travel and Sports Tourism Company with the face value of $2,150, being part of the cost of his travel to Greece.

Unknown to Boakye, the Brazilian had become suspicious of his actions so he (Karmakis) contacted Africa Origin office in Kumasi on the phone and he was told that Boakye was a fraudster so he (Karmakis) should assist the company to arrest him (Boakye) immediately.

On May 12, 2015, Nadia, a staff of Africa Origin, with the advice of the police, posed as a Whirlpool Company agent who had been engaged by Mr. Karmakis to deliver an amount of money to Boakye at the Kumasi Airport.

Boakye’s wife, Abigail Nyarko, was to receive the money on behalf of her husband, who together with three other people – Richard Addai, Gideon Kyeremanteng and Stephen Oppong, a driver – waited patiently for their booty in a taxi at the Kumasi Airport.

The police, who were monitoring the happening at the airport, immediately grabbed Abigail after Nadia had handed to her an amount of GH¢2,000. She also led the police to apprehend her cohorts, including Boakye.

ACP Ampofo Duku, Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, who was addressing the media, said Boakye, earlier in May this year, started sending a picture of a pretty-looking female porn star to Karmakis in Greece as himself, via the internet.

According to him, Boakye initially managed to convince Mr. Karmakis that he is indeed a female who was ready to travel to Greece so that they could get married and happily live together as husband and wife.

ACP Duku said Karmakis therefore accepted to bear all the cost involving Boakye’s supposed travel so he told him (Boakye) to look for a travel agent in Ghana who could facilitate his smooth travel.

Boakye, who was on a mission to defraud the Brazilian, forged Africa Origin invoice to dupe Karmakis, but the Brazilian who had become suspicious, contacted Africa Origin officials in Kumasi, resulting in the arrest of Boakye and his accomplices.