Police nab alleged Diaspora Summit ‘thief’

Police in Accra have arrested a suspect accused of stealing at the just-ended Diaspora Summit after he allegedly posed as a legitimate participant using an official event tag.

The arrest was confirmed by the Head of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service in the Greater Accra Region, Superintendent Juliana Obeng, during a media briefing in Accra on Tuesday.

Superintendent Obeng said the suspect’s arrest followed swift intervention by officers after concerns were raised about his conduct at the high-profile summit.

According to her, “the suspect was wearing an official summit tag and posing as a legitimate participant,” a situation that initially allowed him to move freely within the event venue.

She explained that police officers became suspicious and subjected the suspect to questioning to verify his identity and purpose at the summit.

“Upon questioning, he failed to provide a credible explanation for his presence at the event and was subsequently arrested and detained at the Ministries Police Station to assist in ongoing investigations,” Superintendent Obeng stated.

She noted that further investigations did not end at the arrest but extended to the suspect’s place of residence, leading to additional discoveries that strengthened the case against him.

“Our further investigations led us to the residence of the suspect at Ashaley-Botwe. A search was conducted and led us to the recovery of eight ATM cards belonging to different individuals,” she said.

The police believe the recovered ATM cards may be linked to other criminal activities, and investigations are ongoing to identify the owners and establish how the suspect came into possession of them.

The update on the Diaspora Summit arrest was given as part of a broader briefing on security operations being carried out across the Greater Accra metropolis during the festive season.

Superintendent Obeng disclosed that, in separate operations, the police had arrested a total of 132 suspects through a series of special swoop and motor operations conducted in several divisions.

She said the operations, aimed at reducing crime during Christmas and beyond, also led to the retrieval of narcotic substances, suspected stolen items and motorcycles.

“All suspects arrested during the operations are undergoing screening. Those found culpable will be put before the courts. All persons not linked to criminal activities will be released accordingly,” she explained.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has assured residents that intensified patrols and targeted operations will continue as part of efforts to maintain public safety and deter criminal activities across the metropolis.