I built two houses with proceeds from stolen car business— suspect

A suspect, Samuel Adebeshin, arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of Lagos State Police Command, in connection with stolen vehicles, said he knew the cars were stolen, but never thought he will be caught. The suspect, married with two wives and seven children, said he had built two houses: two flats and an eight-room bungalow with proceeds from the business of buying and selling stolen cars. The RRS operatives traced a Toyota Corolla stolen from Ikeja Business District to a compound in Kobape, Abeokuta, Ogun State, belonging to a car dealer. It was gathered that the car, with number plates, KRD 759, belonging to Mrs. Olaitan Lawal, was removed from the car park during a church programme. The RRS surveillance team moved to Abeokuta that same night, which led to the arrest of two suspects, who have confessed their connections with the recovered Corolla and seven other stolen cars presently at the RRS headquarters. The suspects, Samuel Adebeshin, 56, who lives at 13 Kobape Road, Abeokuta, and an accomplice, Adeyemi Kamoru, 50, repeatedly maintained that the eight vehicles found with him were all stolen at different locations in Lagos. Suspect’s account Samuel Adebeshin 56 said: “I have been in auto business for 30 years. I know all these cars brought to me were all stolen, but I thought I was safe enough here in my palatial compound. “Two years ago, I met Kamoru Adeyemi. He was the middleman between me and the car thieves. He was the one who introduced Alhaji Tajudeen and one Honourable, both still at large, to me as car dealers and crossers from Benin Republic. “Later on, I discovered that they were car snatchers from Lagos. At this point, I could not back out from the deal. “Any time they bring cars to me, it was Adeyemi who I give money to pay them because I did not want people to identify me with them. “In 2014, I bought one Honda from them at N300,000, but its market value was around N900,000 then. The money was given to Adeyemi. I sold the car for N450,000 six months after. Also, in January 2015, I bought another Honda Accord 2000 model from them; I also paid the thieves through our middleman, Adeyemi. “I built my first house, an eight-room bungalow in 2006, and the second one, two flats in 2015 where I keep the stolen vehicles as they arrive from Lagos. “Once they bring the cars for me, we repaint it, change their number plates and chassis numbers, and take them to neighbouring countries for sale. Occasionally, I sold to people at my car mart, S. Aro Motors, situated at 1, Kuto Road, Isabo, Abeokuta. The suspect disclosed that after the last deal on Thursday, Adeyemi called to inform him that their boys have brought another Toyota Corolla for sale, adding “by this time, I was not at home, but I instructed my first son to open gate for them. The car was parked in my premises, awaiting the usual refurbishment and painting. “However, at about 12:30a.m., a team of policemen came to my house and asked me to give account of the Toyota Corolla car. I opened up to them. I told them that all those involved are Adeyemi, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello and Honourable. I took the Police to Adeyemi’s residence where he was arrested while others were still at large.” The other seven vehicles recovered from Adebeshin’s compound were Mercedes Benz 230; Acura MDX; Murano, Volkswagen Passat station wagon, Renault, Pontiac and Toyota Camry. The Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Dolapo Badmus, said the suspects are helping the Police with investigations. She added that efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.