Nepali duped of Rs 40 million by African gold trader

NEW DELHI, FEB 02 -

A Nepali trader has been duped of Rs 40 million by an African gold trader.

Dinesh Kumar Mishra, proprietor of Shreya Business Trading Concerns, had signed a consignment to import 200 kg gold worth $400,000 with Ghana-based Gold Coast company four years ago with all legal means. But he never got the delivery.

For the last three years, Mishra has been knocking the doors of various diplomatic missions in Delhi and Malaysia seeking justice.

Mishra said he met Alfred Kofi Jones, manager of Gold Coast, and was assured of a business deal. Following the assurance, Mishra started sending money through banks and money transfers companies. He made all transactions through Shreya Business Trading Concerns.

After a delay in the delivery, Mishra then contacted Jones and was informed the company was not able to supply such a huge quantity of gold due to various custom hurdles.

Mishra was then later asked to bring additional money in Malaysia and take the delivery. “We reached Kula Lumpur with the additional money and handed over $35,000 to an agent of Gold Coast,” said Mishra. “There was some gold packed in a packet. The company’s agents also had air tickets to accompany us to Kathmandu.”

But all of a sudden, the agents disappeared with the gold packet, said Mishra. This incident took place in March 2009.

Mishra then he filed complaints at the Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Supplies and Home Ministries in Kathmandu, Nepali Embassies in Delhi and Malaysia and the Office of the High Commission in Ghana.

Investigations conducted by all the missions showed the Gold Coast company never existed in Ghana and all the documents it furnished were fake.

“I have put all my property up as collateral,” said 52-year old Mishra, adding he had filed a complaint at the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) three years ago, but there has not been any progress in the investigation.

Mishra, a former employee of Nepal Electricity Authority, used to supply juice and wine from Australia and Pepsi from Dubai before he met Alfred Kofi Jones.

According to the Office of the High Commission of Ghana in Delhi, there is no person named under Alfred Kofi Jones and all the documents—banks, customs and immigration—submitted by Jones are fake.

“Mishra needed to file a complaint at the local administration in Ghana,” the commission has said. However, Mishra said he was not in a position to travel to Ghana.

Source: The Kathmandu Post