The Cantonments Police has arrested a 31-year-old man for allegedly extorting money from owners of expensive cars under the pretext of having been knocked down by their cars on different occasions.
Richard Okantey, who was in the process of extorting money from a victim last Tuesday on allegations that the driver of a Mercedes Benz EZ 40 series had knocked him down, was, however, exposed by the owner of a media house who had previously fallen victim to the machinations of the suspect.
Unsuspecting victims, often out of sympathy, offer to take the suspect to the hospital for medical attention but he rejects such offers.
Such victims then pay him off after he demands money to take care of himself. Areas of operation
The Cantonments District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police Mr Iddi L. Seidu, told the Daily Graphic that the driver of the car, a medical doctor, revealed to the police that the suspect jumped unto her car while she was driving through Labone in Accra to the house, damaging the side mirror and the windscreen of her car.
He said the owner of the media house, whose name he withheld, who had had an encounter with the suspect, and the medical officer arrested and brought the suspect to the police station.
Mr Seidu said the police had for the past four years been receiving complaints from victims of similar incidents.
He noted that the suspect usually stood by less busy roads in places such as Cantonments, Ridge and the Airport Residential areas where he looked out for expensive cars “and as the car approaches, he jumps on the car, pretending to have been hit by the car.” Victims
The suspect, Mr Seidu said, rather demanded money from his victims with the excuse that he did not want to waste their time and that he would go to the hospital himself.
In most cases, the commander said, he succeeded in receiving various sums of money from his victims who included diplomats and high-profile members of society. Advice
Mr Seidu advised drivers to “be extra careful when they drive around and be cautious of such people”.
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