Gabon embassy fraudsters jailed
Posing as Gabon’s ambassador to Libya, Gisele Nkoma’s short-lived diplomatic career has ended behind bars.
According to the L’Union newspaper on Tuesday, Nkoma had never even seen the inside of an embassy in her life. However, she did have experience as a secretary.
Armed with a faked letter of appointment, the 46-year-old approached employment agencies in Libya, offering jobs in her embassy.
Apart from not actually having an embassy, the problem was that the would-be diplomat required prospective employees to pay between $200 and $500 for administrative expenses and registration.
Accomplice
According to L’Union, Nkoma attempted to blame another for her deception, saying she had been manipulated by an accomplice.
The partner in crime had told her he was a member of the Gabon’s presidential family and that President Omar Bongo himself had provided the false diplomatic accreditation.
But it turns out that the false ambassador was herself tricked. Bongo’s relative was in fact a receptionist at “La Passion Touristique” hotel in Libreville.
The brain behind the scheme, identified as Sylvain Lionel Mambo, has also been arrrested.
L’Union said he told investigators he had set up the scam “to show off his intelligence.”