Accomplice still at large as witness’ civic responsibility unravels chilling scheme.
A driver named Godfred Ayittey has been sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in a kidnapping plot targeting a local businessman and his daughter in Accra. Ayittey, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, was found guilty by the court. His accomplice in the crime, Wang Liang, remains on the run.
The entire kidnapping scheme came to light thanks to the quick thinking and civic responsibility of a witness named Richard Asomaning. Ayittey approached Asomaning, attempting to involve him in the plot. Playing along, Asomaning provided details about himself and a friend, later informing the Tema Police about the imminent danger.
Ayittey instructed Asomaning to conduct surveillance on the intended victims, Mr. Joseph K. Horgle, owner of J. K. Horgle Transport and Company Limited, and his daughter, Elinam. The Tema Police, with the assistance of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), tracked the communications within the kidnapping group. A WhatsApp group dedicated to coordinating the plot was discovered.
Ayittey was apprehended after providing funds for surveillance and planning to acquire firearms for the operation. Investigations revealed that Ayittey, having worked at Mr. Horgle’s company previously, possessed detailed knowledge of the victims’ financial situation. The plan involved exploiting this information and demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency, which would be paid into Wang Liang’s account in China, aiming to evade detection.
As Ayittey begins his prison sentence, the search for Wang Liang continues, leaving justice yet to be fully served in this chilling kidnapping plot. The residents of Accra, however, find solace in the fact that one threat has been removed from their city.