Winneba police smash gang of tricksters

Gomoa-Budumburam (C/R), Sept 21, GNA - The Police at Gomoa Budumbura refugee camp, near Accra, have arrested three members of the gang of tricksters for allegedly attempting to defraud a businessman at the camp.

They are Mallam Alhassan, 25 year old self-styled spiritualist from Burkina Faso, Mr Yaw Maapa, 25 year old farmer and Moro Abubakar, 22 year old unemployed, both from Gomoa-Fete-Kakraba, near Awutu-Breku.

Mallam Alhassan told police that Maapa and Abubakar engaged him to pose as a spiritualist and frighten the businessman that his rivals had hired him (spiritualist) to eliminate him through juju. He said the motive for the operation was to defraud the businessman of huge sums of money.

Mallam Alhassan said they did not meet the businessman at home, but whilst waiting for him, a brother of the businessman called in the police who arrested them. The Police have also arrested Akomanyin, a 25 year old ex-convict from Gomoa-Dominase when he attempted to bolt with one mattress, two washing basins, three bundles of mosquito nets and some plumbing materials from Gyatekrom near Winneba junction.

Mr J.Y Danso, Winneba district police commander said all the four suspects would be arraigned before court soon after investigations are completed.

He urged people in the area to report suspicious strangers to the law enforcing agencies, and advised them to intensify their watchdog activities to help the police to stop criminal activities in the district.

Police have within the past two weeks arrested a number of tricksters and other criminals operating in the district. Mr Danso said most of the criminals apprehended escaped incessant police raids on their hideouts in Accra.