FOUR NABBED FOR PRINTING FAKE CURRENCY (Page 28)

28/09/08
Story: Mary Mensah
Four men believed to be members of a money printing syndicate which has been circulating fake GH¢20, Gh¢10 and GH¢5 in the country have been arrested by the Madina Police in Accra.
The four, said to be operating at Asylum Down in Accra, are said to be part of a bigger syndicate, and that the police were on the heels of other members of the group currently on the run.
Bundles of large quantities of the printed currency notes concealed in a black suitcase, fake $100 bills, computers, inkjet printers, a pistol with ammunitions, five computer hard disks, 13 cartridges with different colours and money wrappers, among others, were found in the house where the police said the syndicate operated from.
Those arrested are Joseph Osafo, a 26-year-old graphic designer and leader of the syndicate, Appiah Kubi, 30, Frank Owusu, 28, and Stephen Kofi Nortey Kommey, 20.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, the modus operandi of the group was to travel to the various regions during market days to circulate the fake money to traders.
He said two members of the group who were on their way to Koforidua in the Eastern Region with large quantities of the money were arrested at the Ayi Mensah barrier by plain clothes personnel who had laid ambush for them.
Chief Supt Ayitey said on September 24, 2008 the Madina police had information about the syndicate who had planned to circulate the fake currency inKoforidua on a market day.
He said based on that information a group of personnel were quickly dispatched to the Ayi Mensah barrier where they laid ambush and at about 10:00 a.m. a taxi pulled up with two occupants.
He said when the two men were searched bundles of the fake currency were found in their pockets and some compartments of the taxi.
The commander said the two suspects, both traders, told the police during interrogation that the supplier of the fake notes lived at Asylum Down.
He said they led the police to the house at Asylum Down where Osafo lives, and he was arrested together with another suspect, and the aforementioned items seized from him.
Chief Supt Ayitey said following interrogation Joseph admitted the offence and claimed he started circulating the currency about two months ago and mentioned other accomplices.
Investigations are continuing.