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Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 5 September 2006

Source: GNA

Legon police arrests a fraudster

Legon, Sept.5, GNA - The Legon District Police have arrested a 52 year-old suspected fraudster, Patrick Asante, who allegedly used someone's building at East Legon as collateral to secure two billion cedis loan from Gold Coast Securities Limited.

Speaking to GNA, Legon District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Michael Teku said Mr Sam Quarshie, owner of the building confronted the official from the company who had gone to inspect the building that was almost completed.

Mr Quarshie told the police that he decided to sell the building and therefore, placed a sale notice on it.

He said the suspect visited the building site three weeks ago and told the foreman, George Afrim, that he (suspect) was interested to acquire it therefore, the sale notice should be removed. Mr Quarshie said the suspect never contacted him so he ordered that the sale notice be replaced.

DSP Teku said the suspect returned to the site on August 30, this year and ordered the removal of the notice because some investors would visit the site to assess the building which he wanted to use as a hotel. He said shortly after the notice was removed, Mr Quarshie arrived at the site and on hearing that the suspect had returned decided to hide in the building to observe.

DSP Teku said the suspect returned after a while with an official from the company to inspect the building and during the inspection, Mr Quarshie confronted them and later lodged a report with the police. He said during investigations, it was found that the suspect had presented a valuation report on the building to the company as collateral for two billion cedis loan. DSP Teku said the suspect had earlier used another building in the area as collateral but it was found to have already been used by another person for the same purpose with the company. He said the suspect would be prosecuted after investigations.