SAPS, Scotland Yard nab 419

2002-10-04 22:57

Johannesburg - Four Nigerians have been arrested, three in South Africa and one in London, after a joint operation between South African police and New Scotland Yard.

SA Police Service spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht said on Friday the arrests followed the kidnapping of a French national, Olivier Rame (44) shortly after his arrival in South Africa on September 26.

He was lured to South Africa by a Nigerian criminal syndicate operating a 419 letter scam.

The scam, named for the section of the Nigerian penal code outlawing the practice, involves offering a potential victim a portion of a fictional amount of money a member of the syndicate wants to move out of a country.

Typically, the fraudsters pretend to be the children, wives or relatives of deposed or deceased African leaders, including any number of former Nigerian dictators, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and lately, Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi.

Others claim to be bank officials who have access to vast fortunes that allegedly belong to no-one.

Victims are confidentially asked to make their bank accounts available to launder the money in exchange for a commission, usually itself a small fortune.

They are then asked to pay an administrative fee. Most, in anticipation of riches to come, oblige.

Meeting the victim

The fraudsters then usually ask the potential victim to meet them. Many victims have been held for ransom, robbed or even murdered once in the clutches of the scam artists.

Most 419 fraudsters were also tied to the human slave trade and international drug smuggling.

In this case, Rame was induced to pay EUR60 000 (about R600 000) into a London bank account.

When he arrived in Johannesburg he was kidnapped.

His captors then contacted his daughter in London and demanded a ransom.

She apparently called in the London Metropolitan Police's detectives based at New Scotland Yard who alerted the South African police through Interpol.

A joint operation was launched to rescue Rame and two London detectives arrived in South Africa on Wednesday.

The two and commercial crime unit detectives simultaneously raided property in Roodepoort, Randburg and Orange Grove at 4pm on Thursday. New Scotland Yard officers raided a London premises at the same time.

Three Nigerians were arrested in South Africa and one in London. The man arrested in England was believed to be connected to an international syndicate with links in South Africa.

The three arrested in South Africa would appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate's court on Monday.

Equipment and documents used by 419 fraudsters were also confiscated.

During the raids, Rame was taken to a Kempton Park hotel by his kidnappers and released. He was slightly injured after being assaulted.

Police expected to make more arrests soon.

- SAPA