Police ‘Chief’ Busted
-For Fraud
‘DSP’ Mohammed Abu
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The young man, who gave his name as Mohammed Abu, reportedly introduced himself to his victims, some of who are traders and shop owners at the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra, in June 2012 as a senior police officer with the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). He claimed he was stationed at the national police headquarters, with his office on the third floor of the building.
He subsequently told them he had been tasked to enlist drivers into the Police Service and managed to convince two persons, one Mohammed Yussuf and Moses Arubaturo Nabasa, to pay GH¢3,100 and GH¢3,100 and GH¢3,170 to him to facilitate the process.
The James Town District Police Commander, DSP Francis Somian, who narrated the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said Abu collected from the victims two passport sized photographs each; photocopies of their drivers’ licence and educational certificates.
After duping them, Mohammed was said to have gone into hiding and lodged at a guest house around Tabora area in Accra called ‘One Stone’.
But luck eluded him on Tuesday, October 9 when he was spotted along the Graphic road area by a witness in the case who quickly called in the victims. They accosted him and handed him over to the police.
A search conducted on him by the police led to the recovery of a police recruitment application form with the serial number NOR00701711, of an applicant named Aminu Mohammed.
Two mobile phones, a toy gun and an amount of GH¢620 were also found on him.
A further search by the police in his room at the guest house revealed eight more copies of the enlistment forms, 13 blank police extract forms, three copies of birth certificates of prospective applicants, copies of testimonials, result slips and educational certificates.
In addition to that were copies of dismissal letters of two policemen, Escort/Constable Seth Quaye with number 44624, and Escort/Constable Stephen Baffoe with number 44634; and three passport sized pictures of the applicants.
Mohammed also allegedly managed to use his fraudulent position of a ‘Deputy Superintendent of Police’ to endorse the entry forms of his girlfriend’s daughter and duped the lady of an amount of GH¢1,000.
But police investigations revealed that he was not the person he claimed to be.
The police charged him for defrauding by false pretense and impersonation.
DSP Somian entreated members of the general public who might have fallen victim to Mohammed Abu’s scheme to come forward to assist in investigations.