Police in Yaounde have arrested seven men, including four inmates from Kondengui Central Prison and a prison warder, for allegedly impersonating senior government officials to scam unsuspecting people.
The suspects, five of whom were operating from Kondengui Prison—a prison guard and four inmates—were working alongside two identification agents from MTN and Orange Cameroon, state newspaper Cameroon Tribune reported.
Authorities arrested them on Friday, March 28, and later referred them to the prosecutor’s office on charges of fraudulent misappropriation of titles and positions, coercion, forgery of public and authentic documents, and fraud.
The group used false identities and profiles of high-ranking officials, including Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency; Oswald Baboke, Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet; and Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, Minister of Transport.
A victim reported the group to the police on March 4 for using the name and rank of the Director of Health at the General Delegation for National Security, exposing the network.
“His identity was used to defraud candidates for the police entrance exam. The chief of staff therefore ordered the opening of an investigation to identify the perpetrators as well as the parents of the victims,” explained Police Commissioner Meva’a Vincent de Paul, head of the Special Investigation Brigade of the Directorate General for National Security (DGSN).
The suspects are part of a growing network of identity fraudsters in Cameroon who swindle millions from citizens by promising them jobs.
Corruption in the civil service fuels this illicit trade, as individuals frequently bribe top government officials to secure public service positions for their relatives.
Mimi Mefo Info
