Sakawa boss & snake detained

Alhassan Ali Tanko with his snake at the Nima Police Station Mallam Ali, the 27-year-old sakawa man who defrauded one Alhassan Ali Tanko of various sums of money, amounting to almost GH¢18,000, has been remanded, along with his African Royal Python by an Accra Circuit court.

While the sakawa boss is in the custody of the police, the snake has been transferred to the Game and Wild Life Division of the Forestry Commission for safe keeping, until the fate of his boss was determined.

The prosecuting officer, Inspector Michael Jubiok, told the court that the suspect was introduced to the victim, Alhassan, somewhere in March 2008, by one Mohammed who claimed he was assisted spiritually by the suspect to travel abroad.

Armed with this piece of information, Alhassan sought the spiritual assistance of Mallam Ali to establish his own business.

On one occasion, the accused told Alhassan that he could multiply a sum of GH¢20,000 twenty times if he (Alhassan) could get him the amount.

To show his spiritual prowess, Mallam Ali allegedly conjured several dollar bills in the presence of Alhassan who became convinced that his money could really be multiplied.

Later, suspect Ali asked his victim to rent a one-unit two-bedroom self-contained apartment for him, which he did, at the cost of GH¢2,040 for a period of two years.

The victim fully-furnished the apartment, bought two 24-inch coloured televisions, and as well fixed an air-conditioner in the room at the suspect's request.

The complainant, in his bid to establish his own business, readily parted with the sum of GH¢15,000 to the suspect to be multiplied.

A week later, he was given a box by the suspect to be buried at the sea shore which would be excavated after three days, by which time the money would have multiplied twenty-fold.

On the said day, Alhassan went to the designated place at the beach where the box, suspected to be containing the money, was buried but could not trace the telltale box.

When he consulted the spiritualist over the issue, he was accompanied to the shore and in a dramatic fashion, the suspect allegedly invoked the so-called spirits and afterwards informed Alhassan that the spirits had given a new procedure for the multiplication of the money.

Alhassan once again complied with the second process and provided a ram among other things which were needed for the ritual; yet, there was no money.

The victim later realized that he had been defrauded.

After several attempts to retrieve his money proved futile, he reported the matter to the Regional Police.

The suspect would make his second appearance in court on June 5, 2009.

By Rocklyn Antonio