Pastor arrested for fraud

A self-styled Reverend Minister, Amos Yeboah DaCosta, 30, has been arrested by the Police for allegedly defrauding a banker of GH¢700.

The suspect, who claimed to be a pastor and head of 'God's Kingdom World Mission/Solution' a Christian NGO, was arrested on Thursday, when the banker, David Cobbina, drove him to the police Headquarters in Accra.

Briefing the Times at the weekend, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Francis K. Somian, Commander of the Panthers Unit, said that at about 12 noon on Thursday, Mr Cobbina had a call from a friend whose name was given as John Kuma, requesting him to give GH¢700 to 'Pastor' DaCosta to clear a parcel sent to him from the United Kingdom, which contained US dollars.

ASP Somian said Mr Cobbina obliged and met the suspect at an agreed location where he gave the money to him.

DaCosta, after collecting the money, asked Cobbina to drive him to Darkuman where he claimed the parcel was being kept.

When they got there, DaCosta collected the parcel and then requested him to drive to Sakumono, near Tema, where he said he would give back the money to him.

According to the police, Mr Cobbina became suspicious and therefore, drove to the police Headquarters and lodged a complaint against him.

ASP Somian said when the parcel was opened, it contained papers neatly cut in the size of currency notes.

When questioned, DaCosta claimed he was not aware that the parcel was stuffed with papers instead of the dollars that he was expecting.

ASP Somian said the police are conducting further investigations into the case.