This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq68j92yjd9o
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Shatta Wale: Ghanaian musician detained over Lamborghini purchase | Shatta Wale: Ghanaian musician detained over Lamborghini purchase |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Shatta Wale is one of Ghana's best-known dancehall stars | Shatta Wale is one of Ghana's best-known dancehall stars |
| Popular Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale was detained in an investigation linked to his purchase of a luxury car and has been granted bail, the Ghanaian authorities have said. | |
| Wale's yellow Lamborghini was seized earlier this month at the request of the US, which alleged that the vehicle was tied to the proceeds of a criminal enterprise. | Wale's yellow Lamborghini was seized earlier this month at the request of the US, which alleged that the vehicle was tied to the proceeds of a criminal enterprise. |
| Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office (Eoco) said Wale voluntarily entered custody on Wednesday and was subsequently questioned over the car. | Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office (Eoco) said Wale voluntarily entered custody on Wednesday and was subsequently questioned over the car. |
| Wale's management did not mention the US's allegations in their statement, saying instead that the artist was detained over "tax obligations". | |
| The 2019 Lamborghini Urus was identified by the FBI and US justice department as being linked to "a $4m ($3m) crime involving one Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian who is currently serving jail in the USA", Eoco said on Thursday. | The 2019 Lamborghini Urus was identified by the FBI and US justice department as being linked to "a $4m ($3m) crime involving one Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian who is currently serving jail in the USA", Eoco said on Thursday. |
| Wale has denied knowing or being connected to Amuah, who received a seven-year sentence for fraud in 2023. | Wale has denied knowing or being connected to Amuah, who received a seven-year sentence for fraud in 2023. |
| Shatta Wale: Why Ghana's 'dancehall king' is trying Afrobeats | Shatta Wale: Why Ghana's 'dancehall king' is trying Afrobeats |
| He said he was a "third-party owner" of the $150,000 (£110,000) car and that he did not know who had shipped it to the country. | He said he was a "third-party owner" of the $150,000 (£110,000) car and that he did not know who had shipped it to the country. |
| Wale, real name Charles Nii Armah, is one of Ghana's best-known musicians. | Wale, real name Charles Nii Armah, is one of Ghana's best-known musicians. |
| He has built a hugely successful career on Jamaica's dancehall sound, and boosted his global profile by collaborating with Beyoncé on her 2019 song Already. | He has built a hugely successful career on Jamaica's dancehall sound, and boosted his global profile by collaborating with Beyoncé on her 2019 song Already. |
| After being questioned, Wale was granted bail of 10,000,000 Ghanaian cedis (£910,00; £675,000), Eoco said. | After being questioned, Wale was granted bail of 10,000,000 Ghanaian cedis (£910,00; £675,000), Eoco said. |
| The musician was later released after paying the bail which was reduced to $454,000, his management said. | |
| Meanwhile, a small crowd of Wale's fans gathered outside Eoco's offices in the capital city Accra to show solidarity with the musician. | Meanwhile, a small crowd of Wale's fans gathered outside Eoco's offices in the capital city Accra to show solidarity with the musician. |
| Eoco previously said Wale's Lamborghini would be returned to the US to aid in the restitution of Amuah's victims. | Eoco previously said Wale's Lamborghini would be returned to the US to aid in the restitution of Amuah's victims. |
| Amuah and his co-conspirators had impersonated vendors to defraud nearly 70 public and private organisations across the country, US court records show. | Amuah and his co-conspirators had impersonated vendors to defraud nearly 70 public and private organisations across the country, US court records show. |
| On Wednesday, Wale's management urged fans to remain calm and avoid speculation while the musician remained in detention. | On Wednesday, Wale's management urged fans to remain calm and avoid speculation while the musician remained in detention. |
| "We want to assure all fans and the general public that his legal team is fully engaged and actively working with the authorities to resolve this matter," the statement said. | "We want to assure all fans and the general public that his legal team is fully engaged and actively working with the authorities to resolve this matter," the statement said. |
| The seizure of Wale's car is part of a broader operation - Ghana has been working with the US to dismantle an international fraud network that targets Americans. | The seizure of Wale's car is part of a broader operation - Ghana has been working with the US to dismantle an international fraud network that targets Americans. |
| This month, the FBI and US Justice Department extradited and arrested three Ghanaian nationals alleged to be the masterminds of a $100m fraud scheme, which involved romance scams and phishing attacks. | This month, the FBI and US Justice Department extradited and arrested three Ghanaian nationals alleged to be the masterminds of a $100m fraud scheme, which involved romance scams and phishing attacks. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| WATCH: Why do so many catfishing scams come out of West Africa? | WATCH: Why do so many catfishing scams come out of West Africa? |
| Ghana's love affair with reggae and Jamaican Patois | Ghana's love affair with reggae and Jamaican Patois |
| 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' | 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |