Man granted bail for defrauding fabricator of GH¢200,000

A beads designer, who allegedly took GH¢200,000.00 from a fabricator under the pretext of buying items to perform rituals on a cache of dollars for use, has been granted bail by the Circuit Court, in Accra.

Mr Joseph Nartey Tetteh, 29, who was charged with defrauding by false pretence, pleaded not guilty to.

The Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusuaa Appiah, admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of GH¢150,000.00, with three sureties to be justified.

The court ordered prosecution to file and serve all disclosures and witness statements within two weeks.

The accused was ordered by the court to report every two weeks to the Somanya Police Station or any other police station chosen by the investigator.

The case has been adjourned to August 29, 2022.

Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, told the court that the complainant, Mr Joseph Ababio, was a fabricator and a resident of Tabora in Accra whilst the accused claimed to be a beads designer resided at Somanya in the Eastern Region.

The prosecution said in 2018, the complainant had a call from accused that he had dollars, and he needed someone to assist him financially to buy items to perform rituals on it.

Chief Insp Ahiabor said the complainant became interested in the deal and sent money to the accused as and when he requested.

Prosecution said the complainant later realised that accused had made him send GH¢200,000.00 to him and went into hiding.

He said whiles the complainant was deliberating on the issue to trace the accused person, he used another number which bore the name Joyce Appiah, which the accused once made him to send money on it.

Prosecution said the complainant started to engage the user in a conversation and asked him to meet him in Accra for GH¢8,000.00.

Chief Insp Ahiabor said one Stephen Ogbodjor purported to be Joyce Appiahmet the complainant and alerted the Tesano Police.

The prosecution said Ogbodjor upon interrogation, denied his involvement in the deal, but admitted knowing the accused as a fraudster and promised to assist the police to arrest him.

Chief Insp Ahiabor said Ogbodjor led the police to arrest accused at his hideout at Somanya.

Accused was granted police enquiry bail to refund the money, but he failed and did not report to the police as instructed.

Chief Insp Ahiabor said when accused was re-arrested he admitted the offence in his caution statement and mentioned Baba as his accomplice whom he conspired with to dupe complainant of GH¢120,000.00 and not GH¢200,000.00.

Prosecution said accused could not assist the police to arrest the said Baba.  – GNA