TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- Sub Directorate of Cyber Crime, Jakarta Police arrested a Nigerian man suspected of committing fraud in a property investment scheme, police said Saturday, August 1, 2015.
Deputy Director of the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation Metro Jaya Regional Police, Assistant Commissioner Iwan Kurniawan said, “initially, the victim reported the fraudulent acts committed by her new friend who claims to be American.
“They know each other through social media LinkedIn," Iwan continued.
The 34-year-old Nigerian man was arrested on Monday, July 27th, 2015, after police received a report of fraud from an Indonesian woman.
Iwan said, the suspect’s name is Mathias Igwebuike Ezeudu. The total value of the fraud committed Ezeudu reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
Ezeudu, knew the victim identified only as Diah about three months ago, promising her a US$1 million on property investments. He told her that he was stuck at the Malaysian airport immigrations and needed Rp 350 million to bail him out.
A few days later, he called the victim again with a similar story and this time he said he was held at the Jakarta airport immigration and requested Rp 355 million to release him. On both counts, Diah agreed to send the money.
In Jakarta, Ezeudu invited Diah to meet him at his hotel in Slipi, West Jakarta and again asked for Rp 175 million. This time he said the money was administration fee for transferring the investment fund to Diah.
It was not reported whether Diah olbiged the third time. She reported Ezeudu to the police on July 15 and the Nigerian was arrested on July 27.
Ezeudu will be charged with fraud and money laundering with a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to Rp 10 billion.
MAYA NAWANGWULAN