Emmanuel Sakyi Afriyie, a 25-year-old contract employee of one of Ghana's largest institutions, has been arrested on suspicion of stealing approximately GH1.2 million from client bank accounts.
A handcuffed suspect who was apprehended in the past (Twitter).
Some of the accounts from which the suspect allegedly stole money belonged to a deceased judge and a former Inspector General of Police.
He allegedly transferred a portion of the funds to his own account at a different bank, his 17 collaborators' accounts at various institutions, and their mobile money accounts. He is also accused of purchasing an iPhone 14 Pro Max and a Toyota Camry with some of the money.
Prior to his detention, Afriyie had purchased a plane ticket to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with his girlfriend.
On June 4, 2023, however, he was apprehended at the Kotoka International Airport after security officials acted swiftly, laid a trail for him, and arrested him there.
The accused is alleged to have conducted fraudulent transactions using the password of his superior.
He allegedly secretly recorded his employer using a mobile phone as she entered her password, and then analyzed the recording to determine her password.
Within two months, Afriyie transferred the funds from the consumers' accounts.
Later, some of his accomplices were apprehended, brought before a judge, and detained before being released on bond.
Afriyie is accused of multiple crimes, including larceny and conspiracy, along with several of his aides.
He is the only defendant facing additional allegations of falsifying accounts and forging other documents, bringing his total number of charges to 13, all of which he has denied.
On June 16, 2023, he is scheduled to reappear before a court presided over by Ellen Ofei-Ayeh.
Eleven additional purported accomplices remain at large as the police investigation continues.