Fake priest in police grips

A 39 year old notorious conman, Moukouri Penda Reginald, alias Abbé Luc Deogratias is currently in police custody for extorting huge sums of money from his victims.

Abbé Luc Deogratias, who parades himself as a priest, dupes naive citizens with ambitions to travel abroad of their hard earned currency in the name of facilitating easy access to their visas.

The swindle, used the name of the National Episcopal Conference to cover up his shady deals. He had with him a fake letterhead and the stamp of the Douala Arch Diocese. He forged the Douala Archbishop’s signature on those letters.

Going by the Commissioner of the 1st District Police Station in Douala, Hassimou Mohamadou, his elements caught the suspect in front of St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Bonadibong on June 25 after a tipoff.

Luc Deogratias confined one Mbarga Flora at a quiet place and told her of a partnership at the National Episcopal Conference in collaboration with Canada, France and Italy to facilitate the acquisition of visas.

Since the fake priest convinced her that a greater part of the charges was taken care of by the National Episcopal Council, Flora prayed that the wonderful offer should not pass her by.

Flora had to make an initial deposit of FCFA one million for the processing of her documents. She hurriedly raised the sum of FCFA 670,000 which she gave to the fake priest. To assure the victim of the trustworthiness of the project and to spur her to give more money, she was given a confirmation letter signed by His Lordship Samuel Kleda.

The victim, who became suspicious of the priest’s persistent calls demanding for the balance, got frightened and immediately contacted the Commissioner of the 1st District Police Station. After preliminary arrangements with the police, Flora booked an appointment with the fake priest to give him the rest of the money.

Abbé agreed to meet her in front of the St Peter and Paul Cathedral where he was napped. The suspect is said to have deceived over five people using the same trick.