Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Source: GNA

Police arrest alleged "Sakawa" fraudsters

Agona Nyakrom(C/R), June 9, GNA - The Agona Duakwa police have arrested 10 people suspected to be members of a group engaged in internet fraud, "sakawa", group at Agona Kwame Ntsiful, a farming community in the Agona East District. The Agona Nyakrom District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police Henry Amankwatia, who said this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Nyakrom, gave their names as, Mahama Moro 42, Mohammed Alhasan 42, Alfa Adamu 22, all from Republic of Benin. The others are Atsu Dzokoto (driver) 45, Kofi Atiako 30, Francis Mensah 26, Jacob Mensah 30, Kudjoe Mohammed 34, Kofi Andoh 50, leader of the gang, all from Awutu Bawjiase and Alfa Alhasan (Malam) also from Benin.

Mr Amankwatia told the GNA that on June 4 the police received a telephone call from Nana Kofi Abede, Omankrado of Agona Duakwa, that the 10 people had been arrested at the village suspected to be "Sakawa" operatives.

He said when police got to the village they saw the 10 men together with a white hen, hoes, a coffin an axe. Mr Amankwatia said the people at the villages claimed that they spotted the 10 people when they were digging holes at the outskirt of the village to perform their rituals. He said a mob burnt down a taxi the suspects were using. 9 June 09