More revelations are coming in about the alleged fraudulent susu scheme implemented by Business for Home Susu Company in the Shama District of the Western Region.
A staff member of the company says they had suspected the proprietor, Michael Kojo Assan Genesis, of fraud due to the manner in which he conducted the business.
Matilda Blay, a collection agent, says the company offered, among other products, hire purchase agreements, land leases, and other promises of juicy returns on investment for customers but failed to deliver on them.
According to her, staff had become overly suspicious about the legitimacy of the hire purchase offers when their office didn’t even have “a common television.”
“…so what impression did that create for customers? You say you have a warehouse in Accra, and yet we don’t even have a refrigerator,” she added.
Matilda explained that customers were required to contribute at least 50% of the cost of any item of their choice to secure a hire purchase deal.
Therefore, “the customer would pay off the remainder, including interest, in instalments.”
“But then things started to go bad. Customers started demanding refunds. He [Michael] started giving excuses in response to every request.
“Furthermore, we couldn’t verify his place of residence or where he came from.”
“Tension erupted, and some customers from Aboade and Abuesi stormed the office armed with machetes, clubs, and stones,” Matilda recounted.
“All they wanted was their money. But we feared not only for our lives but for his. He was so adamant about not paying these customers back.
“…and we knew there was enough money to settle them. Fortunately, the husband of one of our colleagues, clad in a uniform, stormed our office and pressured him to release the funds to the agitating customers.”
Matilda added that the staff took it upon themselves to report Michael to the police. She indicated that they had no choice but to seek police intervention in the matter.
“We live among these customers. And who knows the dangers that might await us at our homes? These customers know us and our families.”
Michael is currently in police custody at the Shama District Police Command. According to sources, he is to be arraigned before the Wassa East District Magistrate Court in Daboase on June 24.
