He extorts huge sums from victims for visa to study in Canada, France and Italy.
A 39-year-oil 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 their getting visas. The swindle, who uses the name of the National Episcopal Conference to cover up his shady deals, is in possession of a fake letterhead of the body and the stamp of the Douala Arch Diocese and could forge the Signature of the Douala Archbishop.
Going by the Commissioner of the 1st District Police Station in Douala, Hassimou Mohamadou, his elements apprehended the suspect in front of St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Bonadibong on June 25th following a tipoff. As the story goes, Luc Deogratias cornered Mbarga Flora and told her of a partnership the National Episcopal Conference signed with Canada, France and Italy to facilitate the acquisition of visas. Since the fake priest let her know that a greater part of the charges is provided for by the National Episcopal Council, Flora prayed that the wonderful offer should not pass her by. Flora had to hand in the sum of FCFA one million for the processing of her documents. She hurriedly raised the sum of FCFA 670,000, which she handed to the fake priest. To assure the victim of the trustworthiness of the project and to spur her give more money, she was handed a confirmation letter signed by His Lordship Samuel Kleda.
Worried by the priest’s persistent calls asking for the remaining money, the victim, whose trip to Canada was fixed for August 27, got scared 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 hand in the rest of the money. The priest, who must have jumped with joy after Flora’s call, 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.
