Suspected '419' Men in Grips of the Law

THE ACCRA Regional Tribunal last Friday remanded one Godfred Kwasi Mawunyo Tawiah, suspected to be among a "419" syndicate operating in Accra, to re-appear on February 5, this year, for defrauding a Swiss couple by false pretences to the tune of approximately ?68 million and US$170,000.

Tawiah's alleged offence contravenes Sections 23 and 131 of the Criminal Code of 1960 (Act 29).

A prosecuting officer from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) told the tribunal presided over by Justice P. K. Aggrey, sitting as an additional Circuit Court judge, that the complainants - Mr. and Mrs. Nikolay - from Switzerland, saw an advertisement by the accused and others currently at large, on the internet, claiming that they operate a company called Goldlink Security Company, which deals in gold business.

He said the complainants expressed interest in the business and started exchanging correspondences with the accused and his group.

He added that the accused and his group submitted fake documents to the complainant for the supply of 250 kilos of gold worth $1,600,000.00.

Explaining further, the prosecutor said the documents bore the name of the accused as the director of the Goldlink Security Company.

According to Mr. Achigibah, the fraudsters made the complainants aware that some monies would be needed for the payment of taxes and they succeeded in getting an amount of ?68 million from the them.

It was also agreed that Mr. Nikolay comes to Accra on January 21, this year to pay an initial amount of $170,000.00, he told the tribunal.

He said the complainants, after paying the initial amount, became suspicious and alerted the SFO and were advised not to travel to Ghana.

At about 9: 45pm, the accused, holding a placard bearing his name, was at the Kotoka International Airport to welcome Mr. Nikolay, but he was subsequently arrested.

Mr. Achigibah prayed the tribunal to remand the accused as the SFO continues its investigations to track down the other suspects who were at large.

The tribunal accordingly remanded Tawiah, an Accra based taxi driver, in prison custody to reappear on February 5, for mentioning