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4th February, 2010
Diamonds...But Don't Touch The Bag
But for the intervention of Immigration Officials at the Kotoka International
Airport (KIA), two Iranians would have left the country on January 24 without
knowing that diamonds they had bought for 40,000 dollars were fake.
Acting on the instruction of those who sold the diamonds to them, the two were
only waiting to get to Iran before opening the parcel containing the supposed
diamonds.
According to them, that was the third time they were in Ghana to transact
business.
In their previous transactions, they succeeded in buying the precious stones at
Akwatia.
Briefing the Times yesterday, Assistant Director of Immigration, and head of
Operations Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Lord Afrifa said four
people now in police custody lured the Iranians into the country to sell
diamonds to them.
The four are Kenneth Kabutey, 42 leader; Ishmael Osmah Amartey, 52 interpreter;
Osaka Bawa, 48, and Iking Freeman, a Liberian. A fifth person is on the run.
Kabutey is in custody assisting in investigations while the others are on bail.
Mr Afrifa said on January 24 the Iranians who were returning to Iran were held
by Immigration Officials at the Kotoka International Airport (KUA), for
questioning.
He said even though screening of the two showed that they entered the country
legally to do business, the officials probed further to know the exact business
they came to transact.
The two said that they came to purchase diamonds to the tune of 40,000 dollars
but the sellers instructed them not to open the parcel of diamond until they
got to Tehran. They produced a document covering the diamonds.
That, according to Mr. Afrifa aroused the suspicion of the GIS officials who
insisted that the parcel should be opened.
It was when the parcel was opened and the contents closely examined that they
were found not to be diamonds.
He said the two then led the GIS officials to arrest the suspects at their
office near Kwashieman.
Mr. Afrifa said the victims said it was the brother of Bawa, a footballer in
Dubai, who introduced the suspects to them.
Airport (KIA), two Iranians would have left the country on January 24 without
knowing that diamonds they had bought for 40,000 dollars were fake.
Acting on the instruction of those who sold the diamonds to them, the two were
only waiting to get to Iran before opening the parcel containing the supposed
diamonds.
According to them, that was the third time they were in Ghana to transact
business.
In their previous transactions, they succeeded in buying the precious stones at
Akwatia.
Briefing the Times yesterday, Assistant Director of Immigration, and head of
Operations Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Lord Afrifa said four
people now in police custody lured the Iranians into the country to sell
diamonds to them.
The four are Kenneth Kabutey, 42 leader; Ishmael Osmah Amartey, 52 interpreter;
Osaka Bawa, 48, and Iking Freeman, a Liberian. A fifth person is on the run.
Kabutey is in custody assisting in investigations while the others are on bail.
Mr Afrifa said on January 24 the Iranians who were returning to Iran were held
by Immigration Officials at the Kotoka International Airport (KUA), for
questioning.
He said even though screening of the two showed that they entered the country
legally to do business, the officials probed further to know the exact business
they came to transact.
The two said that they came to purchase diamonds to the tune of 40,000 dollars
but the sellers instructed them not to open the parcel of diamond until they
got to Tehran. They produced a document covering the diamonds.
That, according to Mr. Afrifa aroused the suspicion of the GIS officials who
insisted that the parcel should be opened.
It was when the parcel was opened and the contents closely examined that they
were found not to be diamonds.
He said the two then led the GIS officials to arrest the suspects at their
office near Kwashieman.
Mr. Afrifa said the victims said it was the brother of Bawa, a footballer in
Dubai, who introduced the suspects to them.
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