Man remanded for allegedly selling tiles as mobile phones
A 26-year-old man, Mustapha Hamidu, has been remanded into police custody for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting persons by selling broken tiles packaged in mobile phone covers as genuine mobile phones.
Hamidu, who appeared before the Accra Circuit Court presided over by Mrs Faustina Mensah, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretence.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) S. Ahiabor, told the court that the accused allegedly lured victims by posting pictures of genuine mobile phones for sale and negotiating prices with them.
According to the prosecution, after agreeing on a price with his victims, Hamidu allegedly replaced the genuine phones with mobile phone covers containing pieces of broken tiles.
The prosecution said the victims usually discovered the alleged fraud only after returning home and attempting to use the phones, only to realise that they had paid for phone covers filled with broken tiles.
ASP Ahiabor told the court that on August 31, the police encountered Hamidu near the Achimota Overpass, close to the old station, allegedly engaged in the act.
He said the accused was found with an original Tecno Camon 20 mobile phone placed in a phone cover, as well as two other similar covers, all allegedly packed with broken tiles.
The prosecution said Hamidu allegedly sold the fraudulent packages to unsuspecting victims for between GH¢500 and GH¢1,000.
A search conducted on the accused allegedly uncovered the fraudulent packages, leading to his arrest.
ASP Ahiabor said the police were also working to arrest Hamidu’s alleged accomplices, who were currently at large.
The case has been adjourned to October 13, 2026.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
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