Posted by By Chioma Okezie-Okeh on
The Lagos police are set to unravel the mystery surrounding an alleged fraudulent Korean who was said to have falsely obtained money from traders in Lagos with the promise of importing textile materials worth over 60 million Naira.
The Lagos police are set to unravel the mystery surrounding an alleged fraudulent Korean who was said to have falsely obtained money from traders in Lagos with the promise of importing textile materials worth over 60 million Naira.
According to a police source at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Hong Wong, the managing director of D.S. Textile Trading Company, allegedly conspired with Mr. Paul Ejiro to falsely collect money from traders with the intent of supplying them with textile materials.
The traders raised an alarm when the said consignment arrived filled with dust and rags while Mr. Wong is thought to have fled to South Africa. Mr. Paul Ejiro and Miss Kang Kyunghee, owner of the Korean Guest House, Ikoyi, where the office is located, have been detained while investigations are still going on to ascertain the truth behind the allegation.
Another twist was added to the tale when some women arrived from Benin claiming that the same Mr. Ejiro collected about N40 million from them for the same materials on behalf of Mr. Wong.
We did it based on trust
Mrs. Olubunmi and other affected traders told Saturday Sun that their business with the Korean had always been based on trust and so far they had never been disappointed. These women are mostly textile dealers from Guest House, Ijaye Street, Idumota Lagos. The spokesman for the group said that on the 9th of August 2006 Mr. Paul Ejiro and the Korean, Mr. Wong came with some textiles as samples.
'Before, he used to bring samples during the festive periods. We select the materials we want to buy and pay him fifty per cent. He always produced the materials as agreed. We have had successful transactions with him for several years until he came with this bid." This time, he came in the company of his manager, Paul Ejiro who stood as intermediary. During the transaction he collected up to N60 million from the traders with the usual promise of fast delivery.
'Later, we heard that there were goods on the way for us. When we went to clear the goods, we were welcomed with 109 cartons filled with dust and rags. They moved immediately to the office and were told that he had fled to South Africa."
In detention
According to the police, Paul Ejiro had been the middle man between the Korean and Nigerians and was said to have successfully transacted business with the Korean in the past. He was the one who introduced Mr. Wong to the traders, assuring them of the same speedy delivery. Most of the money was paid into his account.
And Miss Kyunghee was also arrested to explain the whereabouts of the money, which the traders paid into her account. Both suspects simply said that the money had been transferred to Mr. Wong's account.
INTERPOL intervention
According to the police, the Korean Embassy had been informed of the development. They however requested that the role played by their citizen be clearly stated. If found guilty, the INTERPOL would be contacted for help.