EFCC Arraigns Malaysian
EFCC Arraigns Malaysian over €250m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal
office, on May 22, 2019, arraigned a suspected fraudster, Tan Ah
Chai Richard, alongside his company, Coastal Asia Investments
Limited, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court
sitting in lkeja, Lagos on a five-count charge bordering on
forgery, use of false document, conspiracy to forge and an attempt
to obtain money by false pretence to the tune of €250,000,000.00
(Two Hundred and Fifty Million Euros).
One of the counts reads: “That you, Tan Ah Chai Richard, Coastal
Asia Investments Limited and Dr. Sawang Jana (still at large), on
or about the 27th September, 2018 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired to
commit felony to wit: forgery of Swift Telex Advice dated 27th
September, 2018, indicating transfer of the sum of €250,000,000
(Two Hundred and Fifty Million Euros) to Coastal Asia Investments
Limited account with Polaris Bank Plc (formerly Skye Bank Plc) from
HSBC Bank Plc, London, United Kingdom.”
Another count reads: “That you, Tan Ah Chai Richard, Coastal
Asia Investments Limited and Dr. Sawang Jana (still at large), on
or about the 27th September, 2018 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently used
a false document to wit: a Swift Telex Advice dated 27th September,
2018, indicating transfer of the sum of €250,000,000.00 (Two
Hundred and Fifty Million Euros) to Coastal Asia Investments
Limited account with Polaris Bank Plc (formerly Skye Bank Plc),
which you purported to be from HSBC Bank, London, United Kingdom by
submitting the Swift Telex Advice to Chioma Omamegbe of Polaris
Bank Plc (formerly Skye Bank Plc).”
The defendant, a Malaysian, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge
preferred against him by the Commission.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Bashir M. Kamil,
asked for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the
defendant in prison.
Counsel to the defendant, A. B. Onifade, told the court that he
was served with the charge by the prosecution only on Tuesday, May
21, 2019 and that he would apply for the defendant’s bail after the
proceedings.
He, therefore, urged the court to remand the defendant in the
EFCC custody pending the determination of the case.
However, Kamil, objected to the prayer of Onifade, stressing
that the Commission’s detention facilities were already
overstretched.
Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case to June 28, July 2
and 8, 2019 for commencement of trial, and ordered that the
defendant be remanded in Ikoyi Prison.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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Fraudsters Claiming to be EFCC Operatives Extort Internet
Fraudsters, Yahoo-Yahoo-boys
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous
elements, who mount road blocks on some highbrow areas of Lagos,
such as Victoria Island, Lekki and Festac Town, parading themselves
as operatives of the Commission and extorting money from
unsuspecting members on the allegation that they are suspected
internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo-Yahoo boys.”
For the avoidance of doubt, it is not part of our operational
practice to mount roadblocks and we do not hire agents. The
criminal elements that mount the Lagos roadblocks are not our
staffs and we have no connection whatsoever with their criminal
activities.
Our operatives stick to a standard procedure in their
operations, which conforms with the global best practices for
intelligence officers.
Similarly, the Commission wishes to disown a letter of invite,
purportedly emanating from one DSP Dorcas Bukola, via an email
address: (drealhelen@gmail.com), inviting unsuspecting members of
the public to our office. The email states: “find attached your
invitation letter to our office. All necessary details are in the
attached document.”
While the said DSP Dorcas Bukola claims to be acting on behalf
of the EFCC, we strongly urge the general public and particularly
those who have received the mail to ignore the invite as such a
character is not in the employ of the Commission and has no
authority to act on our behalf. Moreover, the Commission does not
invite people online or through any other electronic mailing
system.
We also warn every recipient of the mail that the attachment
bears a virus that may compromise email accounts once opened.
Furthermore, the EFCC has a verified web mail for its online
correspondences and does not use g-mail.
We restate that we are committed to making corruption and its
kindred financial and economic crimes unattractive to criminal
elements among us. Where in doubt as to the authenticity of a mail
from the Commission, do not hesitate to contact us through our
email: info@efccnigeria.org or send us message via our social media
platforms: (Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram) which share the same
address: officialefcc. The Commission can also be reached via the
hotline: +2348093322644 (+234809EFCCNIG)
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity