Six out of 12 persons, including a banker, who allegedly defrauded a number of Australians to the tune of AUD 2 million (a little over USD1.6 million) have been arrested by the Criminal Investiga­tions Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

Six other suspects are on the run while those arrested have been granted bail in lieu of being sent to court soon.

The Finder got wind of the alleged fraud through an email sent by some of the victims.

Head of the Fraud Unit of the CID, Superintendent Felix Mawusi told The Finder that the suspects would soon put before the court.

He gave the names of the suspects arrested as Henry Biney, 43, a staff of Societe Generale (SG-SSB) Ghana; Pascal Mensah, 34, a graphic designer; Joseph Iyamu, a Nigerian trader dealing in building materials; Samuel Asiedu, 40, a cleaner at SG-SSB; Prince Ebo Biney, 25, National Service Person; and Stephanie Akile, 29, a busi­nesswoman.

According to him, the suspects on the run are Ese Gift Ufuoma, a Nigerian; Michous Philippe Mark; Ji Nartey; Desmond Klening, who posed as Dr Dolph; Solomon Mensah.

Superintendent Mawusi said the complainant is one Peter Klening, who reported the matter to the Fraud Unit of the Australian police.

He stated that the Fraud Unit of the Australian Police subsequently forwarded the complaint to the Financial Intelligent Unit (FIC), which consequently informed the CID about the case.

The head of the Fraud Unit of the CID said, through investigations, the six suspects were apprehended, detained and granted bail between December 17, 2014 and January this year.

Superintendent Mawusi explained that the complainants said they sent the money to the fraudsters through Western Union and bank transfers for investments.

PS & E Global Limited, a real estate and haulage company, was used as a conduit in the alleged fraud case.

He said the CID was reluctant to publish the arrests made so far since it involved a syndicate, and not all suspects have been arrested.

He expressed the fear that publishing the case at this stage may result in all other suspects escaping.