Defrauding by False Pretences Archives

Man remanded for uploading nude videos of a lady he lured into a relationship

A 31-year-old Nigerian national Paul Efeturi Niboro alias Paul Kwame Niboro has been remanded into prison custody by the High Court for uploading sexually explicit videos of a Jehovah’s Witness lady he had lured into a romantic relationship on a pornographic website. The accused arraigned for 10 counts have pleaded not guilty to all which comprised of three counts of defrauding by pretence, a count of Publication of obscene material, forgery, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, receipt of a public officer, and three counts of sexual extortion. The victim, a 40-year-old lady is said to be an African-American who resides in the United States of America (USA). Lawyers of the accused led by Baba Jamal had prayed the Court to admit him to bail on grounds that he is not a flight risk and ready to avail himself to face justice. The request was, however, opposed by State Prosecutors led by Richard Gymbiby, a Principal State Attorney. The court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo has since directed the Prosecution to file their necessary disclosure documents before the next sitting. The case has been adjourned to May 16 for further orders. Brief facts The brief facts of the case as presented by Richard Gymbiby, a Principal State Attorney, (PSA), stated that the complainant (name withheld) is a 40-year-old African-American who resides in the United States of America (USA). While the accused person is a 31-year-old Nigerian who resides in Techiman in the Bono-East Region. According to the PSA, the accused on different occasions claimed to be unemployed or worked as a timber merchant. He said, that on August 28, 2023, the complainant joined an online dating website called ‘JWMatch,’ which is intended for proponents of the Jehovah’s Witness (JW) faith. The PSA added that to ensure that only JWs were on the ‘JWMatch,’ persons desiring to join the group mandatorily answered key questions about the Jehovah’s Witness faith to be admitted unto the JWMatch. Search for a romantic wife Mr Gymbiby told the Court that, the accused seeking to find a victim to defraud also joined the JWMatch website with the name Paul Linux and claimed to profess the Jehovah’s Witness faith. The PSA explained that the Accused falsely stated on his JWMatch profile that he had been a Jehovah’s Witness for about 6 to 10 years and indicated his residential address as Victoria, British Columbia Canada. He stated that the accused despite having two Ghanaian baby mamas and a Canadian wife, had told the complainant that he needed a partner, “a wife that’s full of romance, love, and intimacy.” The PSA said, that on September 16, 2023, the accused contacted the complainant on the ‘JWMatch’ website and proposed a romantic relationship with her after a series of chats. Cyber Security Analyst He told the Court that, the accused informed the complainant that he worked with IBM as a Cyber Security Analyst in Canada. He added that, when the complainant expressed doubts, the accused indicated that he has permanent residence in Canada and “sent IBM pay slip showing a net salary of CAD 3,616.04, as proof of his employment with IBM.” The PSA said, that in the course of the relationship, their chats moved from the ‘JWMatch website’ to the WhatsApp platform where the accused used a Canadian telephone number +143879592889. Sick mother He told the Court that, one day, out of the blue, the accused informed the complainant that he was in Nigeria as he suddenly had to fly out of Canada to Nigeria to attend to his “sick mother who needed kidney surgery.” The PSA said, the accused later informed the complainant that he had to change the Canadian telephone line to avoid being charged telephone bills on his Canadian telephone number. This according to the Prosecution, was “ostensibly to deceive the complainant into thinking that he was resident in Canada when he was all the while living at Techiman.” Sexual encounter “He therefore provided the complainant with a new number +234 916 4300784 on which they could be communicating,” the PSA told the Court. “They thus chatted often and, on some occasions, engaged in sexual encounters over the phone (also known as cybersex),” he added. The PSA again told the Court that, on October 13, about a month after, “the accused engaged the complainant on the ‘JWMatch website,’ and he informed the complainant that he was stranded because he had run out of money.” He told the Court that, the complainant suggested to the accused to secure a loan from his bankers in Canada. “However the accused person indicated that because he was currently out of Canada, he would not be able to secure a loan,” the PSA told the Court. Online Business meetings It was the case of the Prosecution that, on October 24, 2023, “the accused person represented to the complainant that he had an online business meeting with his colleagues at his workplace in Canada.” And that, he “needed internet data which he could not purchase himself as he had expended all his money on his sick mother.” The PSA stated that “compelled by this representation, the complainant sent him $75 via Skill money transfer for the data and groceries which the accused person received via mobile money number 0540890276.” The Prosecution said, about 18 days after the transfer, “the accused again falsely represented to the complainant that he used his car as collateral to secure a loan to cover for the rest of the cost incurred during his mother’s treatment which he has repaid leaving an outstanding balance of $320.” “The accused person expressed fears of losing the vehicle if the loan was not repaid and used that as a pretext to request a loan of $320 from the complainant to reclaim his car from the lender. “Based on this, the complainant further parted with $320 to the accused via Skill money transfer on 12th November 2023, which the accused person acknowledged on WhatsApp chats,” the PSA told the Court. Another

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National Security Operative allegedly swindles businessman over sale of excavator

A 34-year-old National Security Operative who allegedly plotted with three others to defraud a businessman under the guise of selling him an excavator has appeared in court. Willis Amoako Kotei, who is reported to be working at the Jubilee House, took the complainant to a yard in Tema to show him the Saby Excavator, which was listed for sale at GHC14 million. The complainant made an initial payment of GHC467,000 out of a total cost of GHC14 million. Kotei has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretences. The Dansoman Circuit Court judge, Halimah El Alawal Abdul-Basit, has admitted Kotei to bail in the sum of GHC180,000 with three sureties, two of whom must be public servants earning at least GHC5,000. According to the court, one of the sureties must be justified by title deeds, and the accused was ordered to deposit his Ghana Card at the Court’s Registry and report to the Police once a week until further notice. This came after Kotei’s lawyer requested bail, claiming that the fact of prosecution was different from the actual event. According to defence counsel, the accused was a responsible person who would comply with the court’s bail conditions. The prosecution, however, opposed the accused person’s bail, claiming that after being granted police enquiry bail, he failed to report to the police, citing a bench issued by the court for his arrest. “It is by this bench warrant we have the accused person before you today,” the prosecution said. The prosecution’s argument is that the complainant, Emmanuel Kwesi Tettey, is a businessman from Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, and Kotei lives in Adenta, Accra. The prosecution said that sometime in August 2023, the complainant was contacted by one John, who is presently on the run, over a Sany Excavator “deal.” It said the excavator was offered for sale by one Agyapong, who is also at large. The complainant met Agyapong and Boateng in Accra, and they sent him to a yard in Tema and showed him the Sany Excavator, describing themselves as “Staff of the Jubilee,” Accra. The prosecutor added that the defendants (Agyapong and Boateng) agreed to sell the excavator to the complainant for GHC14 million, payable in instalments. According to prosecution, the complainant requested to see the place of work of the two accused (Agyapong and Boateng), and they took him to the Jubilee House. According to the prosecution, when they arrived at the Jubilee House, Kotei, an aide, went to the entrance and enabled their entry into the yard. The prosecutor told the court that Kotei used his permit to take them to his boss’s office, where the parties agreed that an initial deposit of GHC467,000 was to be paid for the release of the excavator. According to the prosecution, the complainant handed GHC467,000 to Kotei and his accomplice at Jubilee House, and they asked him to return the next day for the excavator so that they could install a tracker on it. The prosecution said that after collecting the money, the accused went into hiding, but a witness in the case assisted the complainant in locating Kotei at the Jubilee House. The court heard that Kotei was arrested, and he refunded GHC295,000 to the complainant and sought a week to pay the remaining money, but he failed. The prosecution said efforts are underway to apprehend Kotei’s accomplices. The matter has been adjourned to May 6, 2024. GNA

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Teachers held over GHC394,500 employment Scam

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Three teachers held for alleged employment scam have been granted a GHC350,000.00 bail each by an Accra Circuit Court. Samuel Mensah Amelikpo, David Bacha Ntenyam and Daniel Ofori Boateng are to get two sureties each who from the Ghana Education Service (GES) teaching profession or family members. They are to report to the Police every Wednesday. The case has been adjourned to April 30, 2024. All the three denied conspiring to defraud 42 persons of GHC394,500.00 under the pretext of securing jobs for them into the GES. Police Chief Inspector Daniel Danku told the Court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah that Sumaila Awueidze, the complainant was unemployed and resident of Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region. He said Amelipko lived at Awoshie, a suburb of Accra, Bacha, resident of Asamankese, Eastern Region, while Boateng stayed at Effiduase in the Ashanti Region. They are all teachers. In August 2023, Amelikpo communicated to the complainant that GES recruitment slots were available and that he had protocol to recruit people. Amelipko during the conversation allegedly gave full assurance and promised to make refund when the recruitment failed. The prosecution said due to such representation, the complainant became convinced and organised forty-two (42) interested applicants. It said on August 29, 2023, Amelikpo demanded and collected GHC394,000.00 from the complainants to get them the jobs but failed to do so and went into hiding. The Court heard that all efforts made by the complainant to reach Amelikpo proved futile thus, a report was made to the police. The prosecution said on October 18, 2023, Amelikpo was arrested at Odorgonno Accra and in his investigation cautioned statement, he admitted having collected the above-mentioned amount of money from the complainant to secure jobs for his applicants but failed. Amelikpo mentioned Bacha and Boateng as his accomplices, leading to their arrest on November 10, 2023, at Asamankese and Asante Effiduase respectively. The prosecution told the Court that Bacha in his cautioned statement admitted the offence and told the Police that he only received GH¢388,000.00 from Amelikpo and same was handed over to Boateng and one Reuben Bempoh for the recruitment. Boateng in his cautioned statement also admitted having received monies from Amelikpo and Bacha but paid into the Vodafone Cash wallet accounts produced by Bempoh, whom he met online and also claimed working at GES, National Headquarters Accra. During investigation, the police retrieved GHC70,000.00 from Boateng and same was handed over to the complainant. The police are still investigating the matter. GNA

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Two ECG staff imposters weep as court fined them for extorting money from ECG customers

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An electrician and a mason wept uncontrollably as an Accra Circuit Court fined them for posing as Electricity Company of Ghana staff and taking money from some customers over illegal connections. Nana Adu Gyamfi, a 33-year-old electrician, and Derrick Ntow Adumah, a 22-year-old mason, collected between GHC20 and GHC50 from ECG customers whom they claimed had engaged in illegal connections. The two accused persons were charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime, intentionally or knowingly interfering with suppliers’ distribution and defrauding by false pretences and stealing ECG meter. Gyamfi and Adumah pleaded guilty to all the charges. The court presided over by Mr Sameul Bright Acquah convicted them on their own plea and sentenced them to pay a fine of GHC1,200 on each count in default serve six months imprisonment each. Sentences are to run concurrently. The prosecution led by Mr Paul Assibi Abarigah, Director of Prosecutions ECG, said the complainant, Gabriel Akinade, was the District Technical Officer of ECG, Dansoman and the accused persons, residents of Dansoman, Accra. The prosecution said on March 25, 2024, the accused persons went to Zone Six suburb of Dansoman moving from house to house and introduced themselves to one Magaret Donkor and some ECG customers within Dansoman and its environs that they were workers of ECG on meter monitoring operation. The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons in their operations disconnected and removed installed ECG meter number P35765641 from a house over illegal connection. It said the accused persons in the said operation demanded monies ranging between GHC20 and GHC 50 from the customers. The prosecution said a witness in the case suspected them and demanded their identity cards, which the accused persons could not produce. The witness then raised alarm and with the help of the people around, arrested the accused persons to the Dansoman ECG office. The case was reported to the ECG Investigations Unit and during investigations two reflective jackets, a flat board with ECG printed Logo at the back, screw drivers, voltmeter and ECG meters with serial numbers P35774560 and P35765641 were found on the accused persons. The prosecution said the accused persons in their caution statements, admitted the offence and Gyamfi mentioned that it was Adumah who introduced him into the “business”. GNA

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Traditional ruler in court over land fraud

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Numo Frederick Tawiah Tetteh Adeyena, a traditional ruler, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a Chinese company of GHC360,000. Numo Adenyena is alleged to have collected the money under the pretext of selling four acres of land at Tsopoli to the Company, but failed. Charged with attempt to commit crime namely fraudulent transaction and defrauding by false pretense, Numo Adeyena has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution told the court that the accused person had refunded GHC140,000. The court presided over by Mrs Kizita Naa Koowa Quashie admitted the accused person to bail in the GHC250,000 with two sureties. The court ordered the accused person to deposit a valid passport, which would not expire before March 25, 2025, Voter’s ID, or Ghana Card at the Court Registry. According to the court it was adjourning the matter to April 30, 2024, for the parties to attempt reconciliation. Defence Counsel Lordia Addison prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail . According to the counsel, the accused person, also the head of the family, was not a flight risk. She said the accused person had been on police enquiry bail and had cooperated with the police. The prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah said the complainant Shen Jaiming was a Chinese and a resident of Tsopoli. The prosecutor said the accused person was the head of Djangmaku- Manya family of Old Ningo and a resident of Old Ningo. The court heard that in May 2023, the complainant needed a parcel of land at Tsopoli for his company, Skylight Manufacturing Limited for a project and was introduced to Andrews Darpong by his lawyer as a land agent who could assist him get a parcel of land. The complainant, the prosecution said, contacted Andrews Darpoh, who led him to the accused person’s family, the accused person assuring him that his family could sell to him, four acres of land at Tsopoli at the cost of GHC720,000. The prosecution said the accused person instructed the family surveyor, who led the complainant to a parcel of land close to the Saglime Government Housing project and he (the complainant) developed interest. The court was told that the accused person later collected an initial amount of GHC360,000 from Shen Jiaming and prepared a Sale and Purchase agreement between them. On June 14, 2023, Andrew Darpoh and others with the complainant and one Li Tian Zhong went to wait on the land for the accused person’s family surveyor to demarcate the four acres of land for them. The prosecution said whiles on the land, police officers on duty at Saglime Government Housing Project led by Chief Inspector Agustine Gershon Dormekpor spotted them and after questioning, arrested and took them to the CID Headquarters. The prosecution said the same day, the accused person in his caution statement indicated that the land formed part of his family land. The prosecutor said investigations revealed that the four acre land the accused person collected the money to sell to Skylight Manufacturing Limited Company did not belong to his family, according to an official search report from the Lands Commission. The prosecution said in the course of investigations, the accused person refunded GHC140,000 to Skylight Manufacturing Company Limited. GNA

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Businessman on GHC500,000.00 bail over allegedly defrauding lawyer

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An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday granted GHC500,000.00 bail to a businessman accused of defrauding a lawyer of USD35,000 under the pretext of leasing a piece of land in Santeo to him. The Court presided over by Mrs Sussana Eduful, ruled that two people serve as sureties for David Abu Kantong and be justified. The sureties are to earn not less than GHC5,000.00 every month. Kantong has denied the offence, and he will return to the Court on April 3, 2024. Meanwhile, a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Alfred Nee Quartey Papafio, Ernestina Kwakor Quartey Papafio, and Joseph Kwate Quartey-Papafio for failure to appear in court. Except for Alfred, who faces an abetment charge, they have all been charged with defrauding under false pretenses. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lawrence Kofi Anane stated that the complainant in the case, Mr Samuel Kojo Andrews, is a lawyer who lives in Tantra Hill. He stated that Kantong is the Managing Director of M.O.S Property Consultancy Limited, Alfred is a businessman, and Ernestina is a fashion designer, adding that Ernestina and Joseph Kwate Quartey-Papafio are the Heads and Lawful Representatives of the Papafio family of Santeo. ASP Anane said between 2015 and 2016, Kantong engaged the complainant as counsel for his company, M.O.S. Property Consultancy Limited. During their working relationship, Kantong offered to sell two plots of fenced land situated at Santeo to the complainant, who expressed interest in it and was taken to the site for inspection. He stated that after being satisfied with the location of the land, it was sold to him for 35,000 US dollars, and full payment was made to Kantong, who provided a receipt of payment to the complaint as an acknowledgement of payment. The prosecution said a few weeks later, Kantong gave the complainant an indenture covering the land dated January 9, 2016, endorsed by Alfred, Ernestina, and Joseph, the accused as Heads and Lawful Representatives of the Papafio family. The Court heard that when the complainant later went to the land to start his project, one Musah Shaibu who claimed ownership of the lot, prevented him from developing it. ASP Anane said the complainant immediately notified Kantong of his challenges on the land and requested his assistance in resolving the issue, but Kantong insisted that the land belonged to his company and thus had no record of Mush Shaibu as the company’s lessee in respect of the land. Whilst making attempts to settle the dispute on the land, the complainant also applied to the Lands Commission in Accra to register the land in his name, but his application was also rejected, according to the Police. According to ASP Anane, the complainant brought this development to Kantong’s attention again and requested his assistance, but to no avail. In 2020, the complainant visited the land and realised that Shaibu had begun erecting structures on the land, and all efforts to stop him were unsuccessful. The prosecution told the Court that the complainant asked Kantong, his grantor, to intervene again, and he (Kantong) merely endorsed a new indenture covering the same piece of land for the complainant and left him to his fate. According to ASP Anane, the complainant petitioned the CID on August 20, 2022, which resulted in the arrest of the accused. During the investigation, Kantong claimed ownership of the disputed land through M.O.S Property Consultancy Limited and acknowledged granting it to the complainant. The grantors of the transaction were Alfred, Ernestina, and Josehp. An investigation revealed that the disputed land was part of a larger tract handed to Kantong’s brother, Salifu Johnson, by the Papafio family in Santeo. Investigations also established that the late Salifu Johnson had sub-leased portions of his land, including the disputed portion, to individual developers prior to his death. ASP Anane said a visit to the disputed land revealed that Musah Shaibu had built houses on it, and an official search at the Lands Commission in Accra showed that the land was affected by land certificate No. GA. 23478 issued to Shaibu. The accused persons were accordingly charged with the relevant offences and put before court. GNA

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CEO in court over fraud charge

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Prince Hardi Adams, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Youth for Peace and Development, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a woman of GHC225,999.94 and $1,800. Adam, also businessman, is said to have collected the money from Charity Atiim under the pretext of supplying her with 1,000 bags of 50 kg rice, 50 gallons of edible oil and 30 bags of sugar to be given to schools in the Northern Region. Charged with defrauding by false pretence, Adam has pleaded not guilty. Counsel for the accused person prayed for bail. The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo admitted Adams to bail in the sum of GHC300,000 with two sureties. The court ordered prosecution to comply with the rules of disclosures. The matter has been adjourned to April 16, 2024. Prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong said the complainant Charity Atiim, was the founder of a non-governmental organization (name withheld). ASP Frimpong said the accused person resided at Tabora, Alhaji in Accra. Prosecution said somewhere in the month of June 23, 2023, the complainant met the accused person at his hotel at Wetlands where he introduced himself to her as the CEO of Northern Youth for Peace and Development, an NGO based in Tamale. Prosecution said the accused person mentioned that his NGO supplied food stuffs to schools in the Northen Region and later asked the complainant to also apply for the contract to supply rice, edible oil, and sugar. According to the prosecutor, the complainant obliged and applied. The court heard that, later the complainant’s company was awarded a contract to supply 1,000 bags of 50 kg perfumed rice, 50 units of 50 kg edible oil and 30 bags of 50 kg sugar, all valued at GHC700,000. The prosecution said the complainant who could not raise the whole amount at the time, informed the accused person of her inability to supply the items. Prosecution said the accused person therefore decided to partner the complainant to do the supply together and share the profit once payment was made within three months. The court was told that the accused person demanded and collected GHC225, 999.94 and $1,800 from the complainant to enable him to add his part of the payment, being GHC1.5 million for the purchase of the items for supply. Prosecution said Adams, after collecting the money from the complainant, went into hiding. Three months after the agreed period had elapsed and “no sign of the accused bringing the money,” prosecution said the complainant petitioned the Director General of CID for investigations. The prosecution said Adams was subsequently arrested from his hideout. During investigations, accused could not produce any contract agreement that him supplies any food item to any school in the Northen region or any part of the country. All efforts made by the Police for the accused to provide the contracts of the supposed schools that were supplied with the food items by his NGO proved to be a fiasco,” the Prosecution said. GNA Related

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Three remanded in GHC620,000 alleged gold scam transaction

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A 59-year-old car dealer accused of swindling a businessman of GHC620,000 in a gold transaction has been remanded into Police custody by the Achimota Circuit Court. Gbegoueu Evrard, a French national, is said to have collected the money under the pretext of selling to the complainant, Hayford Boadi, gold but failed. Evrard is facing a charge of defrauding by false pretences. His accomplices are Ernest Kweku Antwi, a 32-year-old aluminum fabricator, and Jordan Ansah, a 24-year-old private security man. Evrard and his two accomplices have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit defrauding by false pretence. Antwi and Ansah have pleaded not guilty to the charge. Evrard ‘s plea could not be taken by the court because there was no French interpreter available. It therefore preserved his plea. The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo ordered the Registrar of the court to make arrangement for a French interpreter to assist the court at the next sitting on March 13, 2024 Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ahiale said the complainant was a resident of Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region. Prosecution said during the year 2021, Evrard told a witness that he had a friend in Ghana who dealt in refined gold. The prosecution said the witness contacted the complainant and informed him about the business which he (the complainant) expressed interest in. ASP Ahiale said the complainant later contacted Evrard on mobile phone through the said witness to import the raw gold and Evrard told them that his friend who was a gold dealer needed some money to perform some rituals on the gold before it could be sold out. Prosecution said to convince the complainant and the witness, Evrard took photographs of himself and the said gold and forwarded them. Based on that representation, the complainant parted with GHC620,000 in bits to Evrard, through the witness for the said rituals. However, after Evrard collected the money, he failed to honour his promise and “kept tossing the complainant and witness with different stories.” In February 2024, the witness lured Evrard with another Gold business transaction for a white man client in Accra. Prosecution said Evrard on hearing the quantum of money involved, he quickly conspired with Antwi and Ansah and one Abdallah, now at large, to defraud the witness. The prosecutor said Evrard invited the witness to meet him in Accra in a few days to see the said gold. Prosecution said the witness on his arrival in Accra from Ivory Coast reported the case to the Police for investigations. On February 20, 2024, Evrard met the witness in Accra and took him to a gated house at Lapaz Fishpond to meet one Abdullai who was his partner for the said gold business. While the said business meeting was going on in the house, the Police swiftly entered and arrested the three accused persons with five coated metallic objects, looking like refined gold bars in their possession. Prosecution said Abdullai however managed to escape through a back door of the house. The court was told that the exhibits were being forwarded for an Assay testing and report to enhance investigations. GNA

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Businessman granted Gh₵100,000 bail over alleged fraud

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The Tema Circuit Court B has granted Michael Opoku Ofori, a 32-year-old businessman, Gh₵100,000.00 bail with two sureties, one of which is to be justified, for allegedly defrauding an online rice trader. The Court, presided over by Mrs Klorkor Okai-Mills, granted him bail after he had pleaded not guilty to the two counts of defrauding by false pretense and issuing a false cheque. Inspector Jacob Kuubal, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant, Mr Daniel Appertey, and his business partner Ms Patience Sitsope Zartey, were traders in local rice, while Ofori was a businessman who resided at Sakyikrom Nsawam. He said on March 17, 2023, Ms Zartey was contacted by Ofori through his Facebook account under the name “Opoku Clef,” expressing interest in purchasing some of her advertised local perfumed rice. Ofori ordered 120 bags of the 25-kilogramme local perfumed rice at Gh₵450.00 per bag, making a total of Gh₵ 54,000.00. He then requested the WhatsApp number of the witness, which he was provided with. Prosecution said Ofori later requested that the invoice for the intended purchase be issued in the name of Owusu Agyekum, but the traders requested an in-person meeting to enable them to show him samples of the rice. They, therefore, agreed to meet at the East Legon Hisense building on the Lagos Avenue Road on March 28, 2023. On the said date, the traders were picked at the agreed venue by a young man in a taxicab to meet with the accused person in a house that was under renovation. Prosecution said Ofori received the rice sample and invoice from the complainant in front of the house with the excuse that he was unable to invite them into the house because of the construction works going on. Instead, the accused person took them to the A&C Mall to have further conversations on the intended purchase and later requested for the bank account details of the complainant, to enable him to transfer the total sum of Gh₵ 54,000.00. On March 30, Mr Appertey delivered the 120 bags of rice to Ofori at a different house also in East Legon upon his directions, after which he (accused) gave the complainant a GCB bank deposit slip showing that he had made payment into his account. Further police investigations revealed that the deposit was fraudulent and not honoured by the bank after three days, unfortunately, by that time, he had already taken delivery of the rice and had later blocked the phone number of the traders, prosecution said. He said Ofori belonged to a bigger syndicate, which the police had been investigating and that their modus operandi was to make orders of products online and lure their victims into delivering the products to them at locations suggested by them. He said after such deliveries were made, they made payment with cheque slips, which were always dishonoured due to a lack of funds. Efforts are still underway to arrest Stephen Nana Boadi Danso, a key accomplice of Ofori, who is at large. GNA

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Businessman in court for allegedly swindling cleric of $57,000

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A 33-year-old businessman who allegedly collected $57,000 under the pretext of securing a Toyota Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle for a church but failed has appeared before the Achimota Circuit Court. Andrews Amoah Ampaw pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretences. Police say the Ampaw was arrested by Ghana Immigrations Service officials at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) while travelling outside the country. The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo admitted Ampaw to bail in the sum of GHC800,000 with two sureties to be justified with landed property. It further ordered Ampaw to submit his passport to the Registry of the Court until otherwise directed. He was also asked to report to the case investigator every Friday. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Ahiale said the complainant, whose name was withheld, is a clergy and an administrator at a renowned church in the country. ASP Ahiale said Ampaw resides at Weija SCC, Accra. On June 29, 2023, Ampaw collected a cash amount of $57,000 from the complainant under the pretext of securing a 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser from Dubai for the church but failed. The prosecution said Ampaw went into hiding and all efforts to trace him and retrieve the money proved futile. On February 12, 2024, information gathered indicated that Ampaw was travelling outside country when he was arrested at KIA by Immigration officials and handed over to Legon Police in a similar case. The prosecution said the complainant identified Ampaw when he was apprehended. During interrogation, the prosecution said Ampaw admitted the offence in his caution statement. GNA Related

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