A Japanese national, Morikawa Hikawu, has been arrested in Ghana over a romance scam following a request by Interpol Japan.
The Ghana Police Service in a statement said the suspect is expected to be handed over to the Japanese authorities after being remanded by a court.
“The Interpol unit of the Ghana Police Service is working with the Ghana Immigration Service, Interpol Tokyo and the Japanese Embassy in Ghana for his removal,” the statement signed by police spokesperson Grace Ansah-Akrofi said.
Hikawu was detained in Ghana in July for allegedly staying in the country illegally.
Japanese police say he and other members of his group have swindled about US$11,000 from two people.
The group, they said, used false identities, such as an American writer, on a matchmaking app. They tricked people into falling in love and asked them for money, including living expenses.
Below is the full statement: