Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
The Spanish police have arrested a 50-year-old woman for pretending to be the president of UN Women and a London School of Journalism graduate while asking for money for bogus projects.
The alleged fraudster, identified as Helen Mukoro, 50, was arrested in Denia in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia.
According to local media, the Spanish woman with a Nigerian background took part in conferences and interviews while posing as the president of UN Women in Spain. The organisation that was founded in January 2011 is the official United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and is working for the empowerment of women.
The police said that Mukoro offered online law courses and asked for money to develop projects linked to the institution she pretended to represent.
The investigation began in mid-2018 when UN Women in Spain reported the suspect to the National Police after discovering she was allegedly pretending to pose as the organisation’s president.
Reports said that representatives communicated with the suspect to ask her to cease her alleged fraudulent activity, but she refused.
Police also found documentation and evidence at her home linked to the allegation, according to local media.
Meanwhile, reports said that Mukoro once presented herself as a candidate to be the Mayor of Denia while at other times she has allegedly pretended to be a private detective, a forensics expert, a journalist, a law expert and a singer.
According to local media, she also claimed to be the president of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce and the owner of Nigeria Viral News.
Reports said she also claimed to have a degree from The London School of Journalism.
The investigation continues.
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