Lamentations of 25-year old undergraduate: I was hypnotised into stealing Mercedes worth N58m

THE SUN

From Paul Osuyi, Asaba 

Meshach Siunuphro, a well built 25-year old man claims to be into various endeavours, but his physique and age might give him out as a Yahoo Boy.

However, he claims to be an Abuja big boy who is into forex trade, and at the same time, a 300-level student of Business Administration at the University of Istanbul, Turkey.

Meanwhile, Siunuphro has landed himself in serious mess. By now, he would be facing interrogation in the nation’s capital as police investigators attempt to unravel the real motive for allegedly stealing and absconding with an exotic Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The unregistered automobile, a 2021 model of Benz GLB 250 4MATIC, is said to be worth the princely, eye-popping sum of N58 million only.

Siunuphro, who hails from Ughelli area of Delta State, allegedly disappeared with the car on June 30 while test driving it after commencing negotiations with the Abuja-based dealer.

He drove down to his home state, changed the four alloyed rims, and later left the car in the bush in Oteri community, Ughelli where it was recovered by police operatives on July 3. The suspect was subsequently arrested four days later on July 6 in Benin City, Edo State.

Parading the suspect, Public Relations Officer of Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, said the suspect would be transferred to Abuja for further investigation.

Edafe said the suspect saw the car advert online, indicated interest and made contact with the dealer. He said during the physical meeting with the dealer, the suspect negotiated to pay N30 million, and actually pretended that he was going to make payment but requested to test drive it which the dealer obliged, ostensibly for the prospective buyer to know the true worth of the SUV.

According to him, the dealer was with Siunuphro during the test drive, adding that they decided to pull over to refill the tank, as the car was running low on fuel.

They pulled into a fuel station, but discovered that only cash payment was accepted in the particular station.

“So because they were not accepting transfer at the particular station, the dealer stepped out to get cash from a POS stand, only for the suspect to disappear afterwards.

“When it was discovered that the car was in Delta, the complainant who is the Abuja-based car dealer was advised to come to the command to formally lodge the report,” he sai, lied, adding that on July 3, the vehicle was recovered.

“But investigation did not stop there. We later got another intelligence report that the suspect was in Benin. We swung into action and arrested him on Thursday morning, July 6. I moved him to Asaba for onward transfer to Abuja,” he said. Edafe seized the opportunity to advise card dealers and car owners to be wary of the new scheme by criminals to snatch cars from people. He particularly cautioned those who take their cars to car wash centres never to hand over the ignition keys to the attendants.

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