Three Africans arrested over fraud allegations

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Three Africans were arrested by South Jakarta Police at a hotel in South Jakarta for alleged fraud having caused a victim, a lecturer at an economic science institute (STIE) in Papua province, Dewa Nyoman Wiryawan TB, to suffer around Rp 1.5 billion (US$176,470) in losses.

"The Africans were arrested for fraud. They had promised to increase threefold U.S. dollars provided by the victim," said South Jakarta chief of detectives Comr. Merdisyam on Saturday.

Police arrested suspects Ngonabe Chretin of Cameroon, 42, Nganiey Jeanvier, alias Henry, of South Africa, 41, and Abiodun Diedo, 28, of Nigeria, in room 631 of Hotel Kaisar, Pancoran, South Jakarta, on Friday after the victim's daughter, Eka Savitri, 37, reported the case to the police.

Merdisyam said that Eka alleged that her father became a victim of fraud after Dewa handed over cash of US$5,000, Rp 40 million and $60,000 respectively to the suspects, who had promised to multiply the value of the money.

Police seized from the suspects a jerrycan containing a liquid chemical substance, two suitcases containing bundles of paper and powder and a bundle of counterfeit dollars.

Jeanvier claimed that he knew nothing about the fraud as he had just arrived in Jakarta for two months for business purposes.

"I was inside a car when I was arrested ... There's definitely been a misunderstanding," he said.