All-female counterfeit money gang remanded in Kumasi

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A circuit court at Nsuta in the Ashanti Region has remanded the 15 females who were arrested for possessing fake currency notes.

They will reappear in court on Friday, June 5, 2020, after prosecution prayed the suspects be remanded while police continue investigations.

Three of the suspects, who are nursing mothers were granted bail but could not meet the requirements, police at the Ejura District told Dailymailgh.com.

It was a charged atmosphere at the first sitting on May 29, 2020 as many traders who had fallen victim to the crime thronged the courtroom to observe proceedings.

The gang was rounded up at separate locations in Kumasi on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, police sources confirmed to Dailymailgh.com.

A member of the gang, Joyce Ama Asare, 33, had earlier been arrested at the Ejura market on May 24, when she was going round buying items with some fake 100 and 200 Cedi notes to the sum of ¢1,100.

The arrest of her accomplices followed earlier operations at other locations in the Metropolis and other Districts in what officers have described as most significant to detect counterfeiting.

Arrest

When police arrived at Embassy Hotel, one of the hideouts in Kumasi at about 10pm, eight persons were arrested. They have been named as; Diana Asamoah, 24, Abena Boatemaa, 33, Afia Pokuah, 40, Abena Gyamfuah, 28 and Charlotte Oforiwaa, 29.

The others are; Joana Yeboah, 29, Sandra Oforiwaa, 30 and Serwaa Rebecca, a teenager.

A genuine cash sum of ¢32,658 while another ¢17,000 worth of  suspected fake notes — in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 — were retrieved from the suspects.

The team also made a stop at the Ducor Hotel at Abrepo in Kumasi where the seven other suspects were arrested. They were in separate hotel rooms when police stormed the facility just before 11pm.

They have also been identified as Antwiwaa Ama Victoria, Esther Akua Asamoah, Theresa Adwoa Oforiwaa, Irene Ama Serwaa, Yaa Afful and Patience Nyarko.

A genuine cash sum of ¢2,000 and suspected counterfeit notes in various denominations totaling ¢24,110 were seized by the armed policemen.

“Assorted items like microwave, wall clock, bicycle, cooking oil, silver set, soap, pepper, tubers of yam, agro chemicals were retrieved from them purported to have been purchased with fake currencies just to gain genuine currencies,” the police said in a statement.

The suspects have since been detained and will face court soon while the seized cedi notes have also been sent to the Bank of Ghana for examination.

Other investigations

Police believe the two hotels could have a role to play in the illicit printing of the notes and may invite management for questioning.

Efforts are also underway to arrest other accomplices, the police said.

At the time of filing this report, however, a nursing mother was also in custody at the Feyiase Police Station after a bag load of fake notes were found on her.

She was arrested on Tuesday, by traders at the Aputuogya market where she embarked on a shopping spree. Witnesses say she may have been lynched but for the timely intervention of the police.

By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH