Online fraud: Police intensify hunt

KOCHI: The police have intensified their hunt for the culprits involved in the online phishing case in which a city doctor was cheated of `11.14 lakh.One of the arrested persons, a Nigerian named Felix Ndubuisi Ededigue was produced before the court on Thursday and remanded in police custody for 10 days. The ninth accused Ashok Bhadra alias Raja will be produced before the court on Friday.Ashok Bhadra , Gandhi Colony, Kolkata, was arrested by a team led by Circle Inspector B Suneesh Babu from his hometown and was brought to Kochi for further investigation.According to the probe team, Ashok had close links with Felix who transferred the money from the doctor’s account.Ashok had been involved in similar phishing cases in the past.“The involvement of the Nigerians has become apparent with the arrest of Ashok.He had close links with Felix, who was arrested by the Kolkata police from Puducherry.After the arrest of Felix, Ashok continued with the phishing activities.After Felix’s arrest, the mobile, through which he operated, was given to a Hyderabadi gang with the help of Ashok.“ “He had withdrawn a sum of `2 lakh from a private bank account to which the other members of the Hyderabadi gang illegally transferred money,” the police said