The Central East Regional Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Benjamin Owusu, for staging a false robbery and kidnapping incident in an elaborate attempt to evade accountability for missing funds entrusted to him by his employer.

According to a press release issued by the police, the incident occurred on 3rd September 2025 at around 03:00hrs, when the Millennium City District Police Command received a distress report from a complainant.

The complainant stated that he had received a text message from the supposed victim, now identified as the suspect, claiming he was under robbery attack at his residence in Fijai, a suburb of Millennium City, Gomoa Nyanyano.

Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival at the suspect's residence, however, Benjamin Owusu was nowhere to be found.

Police did, however, discover blood stains on the floor of his bedroom, raising initial concerns that the occupant may have come to harm. Samples of the blood were taken for forensic analysis, and the case was treated as a possible abduction.

Subsequent investigation revealed suspicious inconsistencies.

The SIM card used to send the distress message had been abandoned, although the suspect later replaced it and made calls from Elubo in the Western Region on 5th September.

The turning point in the investigation came when forensic tests on the blood samples returned negative for human DNA, confirming that the blood was not of human origin.

Further intelligence led investigators to the suspect’s hideout in Akatamanso, Ashanti Region, where he was arrested on 24th September 2025.

During interrogation, the statement noted that Benjamin Owusu confessed to staging the entire incident.

He admitted to killing a duck and smearing its blood on the bedroom floor to fake a violent scene.

His motive, police say, was to create the illusion of a robbery and kidnapping to avoid explaining the whereabouts of funds entrusted to him by his employer.

The suspect is currently in police custody and is expected to be arraigned before court upon completion of investigations.

The Central East Regional Police Command expressed appreciation to all stakeholders and intelligence units involved in the investigation and arrest. The Command further issued a strong warning to the public:

“We caution all persons against such deceptive acts. Anyone found faking crimes for personal gain will face the full rigours of the law,” the statement read.