Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Source: GNA

Woman arrested over fraud and forgery

Stephanie Pauline Michel Stephanie Pauline Michel

The Axim District Command of the Ghana Police Service have arrested 56 year old Stephanie Pauline Michel who allegedly defrauded a taxi driver of GH?3,000.00.

ASP Olivia Adiku, the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) who made this known to the Ghana News Agency, said when the suspect was arrested she was also found in possession a passport which bore a different name and that one too was being investigated for a possibly forgery charge.

According to the PRO, the suspect hired the taxi driver’s services to drive her from Axim to Cape Coast – Accra – Sogakope - Accra and that in addition to other expenses she was charged more than Gh?3,000.00 which she failed to pay and told the driver that she has money in a car at Cape Coast.

She said upon reaching Cape Coast, the suspect began telling stories and failed to pay the driver the said amount.

ASP Adiku said the situation angered the driver who reported the incident to the Police and Michel was subsequently arrested.

She said during interrogation the suspect alleged that her mother is a Ghanaian while her father is an American.

ASP Adiku said a search conducted on the suspect revealed a Republic of Ghana Passport No. G1377830 which bore the photograph of the suspect but had the name of one Rawlins Asantewaa on it.

She said when the suspect was questioned about the different names, she disclosed that the passport was just prepared for her rounds and that it was not genuine.

The PRO said the police would soon forward the passport to the Ghana Immigration Services (GIS) for authentication.