Man arrested for defrauding two rental firms

Story: Albert K. Salia
THE police have arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly defrauding two car rental operators of millions of cedis.
The suspect, Ebenezer Kofi Nsiah alias Adjei Brain Kwame alias Richard Nsiah alias Kwesi Manu alias Charles Boateng alias Samuel Kofi Poku, is also being held for forging the documents of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
Three of his accomplices, David Asiamah, Charles Amoah and Joshua Amissah, are, however, on the run.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Public Affairs Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Inspector Joseph Darkwa, said the suspect on August 10, 2007, went to Trans Tulip Rentals to rent a Toyota Hilux Surf Wagon car with registration number GW 3912 Y at $60 per day for three days. The value of the car was pegged at ¢140 million.
He said Nsiah returned the next day, August 11, 2007 to rent a Toyota Corrola saloon car with registration number GT 9088 X for three days.
He added that the suspect again went to the company on August 13, 2007, to rent a Toyota Camry car with registration number GW 3315 X for three days.
Both cars, he said, were each valued at ¢90 million.
Inspector Darkwa explained that because Nsiah was paying the daily rental charges to the complainants, they did not suspect that the suspect was out to dupe them, especially so when they had dealt with him earlier.
According to Inspector Darkwa, the suspect claimed that he was using the cars for a wedding programme for the period that he rented them.
Unfortunately, he said, after the suspect had gone for the third car, the complainant never saw him nor set eyes on the cars anymore.
According to Inspector Darkwa, Nsiah also switched off his cellphone and could therefore not be contacted.
Inspector Darkwa said the suspect went to another car rental firm, Helgard, at the Labone Junction on August 16, 2007, to rent a Toyota Carina with registration number GT 9510 Y.
He added that Nsiah drove the Toyota Hilux car to Swedru on August 16, 2007, and pledged it to a licensed money lender, Mr George Gyamfi alias Lucky Girl for ¢50 million.
Inspector Darkwa continued that the suspect again took the Toyota Carina to Swedru on August 17, 2007 to pledge it for a loan of ¢30 million to the same money lender.
According to him, Lucky Girl requested to have the documents covering the vehicles before the ¢30 million could be released.
Nsiah, he said, with the complicity of the three wanted persons, forged the Form “C” of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to change ownership of the cars to his name.
Inspector Darkwa said while David Asiamah transferred the ownership of the Toyota Carina from himself to Nsiah, Joshua Amissah and Charles Amoah transferred the ownership of the Toyota Hilux Surf and Toyota Camry vehicles to the suspect.
He said further that investigations by the police following a complaint by the complainants, led to the retrieval of the Toyota Carina and Hilux Surf vehicles at Swedru.
He said the Toyota Corrola saloon car was retrieved at a mechanic’s workshop at Akweteman, while the Toyota Camry was found abandoned at the Tesano Police Station.
The suspect himself was arrested on September 13, 2007 at Nungua, a suburb of Accra, added Inspector Darkwa.