Crime

2 granted GH¢300,000  bailfor defrauding clearing agent

Two persons have been grantedGH¢150,000.00 bail each,by an Accra Circuit Court for conspiracy to commit crime to wit, defrauding by false pretence.

Michel Kota, 28, and Aziz Ben, 32, who are to produce two sureties each to be justified, pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by MrsAfiaOwusuaaAppiah, ordered prosecution to file witness statements and other disclosures within three weeks and adjourned the case to July 21, 2022.

Police Chief Inspector Gulliver Tenkorang said the complainant, King Joe Atani, was a clearing agent, whilst Kota and Aziz claimed to be welders and resided at Sapeiman, near Amasaman, in the Greater Accra region.

Prosecution said in November, 2020, Abraham Tettey, an errand boy for the complainant and a witness in the case, introduced accused and Mohammed, an accomplice, currently on the run, to the complainant as operators of Bitcoin business.

Prosecution said accused luredAtanito meet them at Nungua, where accused and the accomplice told complainant that a Chinese company was mandated to print money (currency) for the Ghana Government.

Chief InspTenkorang said they convinced complainant that the company had owned a container containing papers used for ‘producing’ currencies.

The court heard that Kota and Aziz told complainant that because of the ban on illegal mining in Ghana, the Chinese had returned to their country leaving the container under the care of accused and their boss.

Chief InspTenkorangsaid accused demonstrated and showed samples of alleged currencies to Atani and collected GH¢241,000.00 from the complainant, under the pretext of buying chemicals for the ‘production’ of Chinese-made currency papers.

Prosecution said after receipt of the money, accused told complainant that they were going to buy food, but never returned.

Chief InspTenkorangsaid Atani reported the case to the police and Kota and Aziz were arrested, but Mohammed escaped.

Prosecution said when a search was conducted in the rooms of accused, papers cut in the form of currency notes were retrieved.

Chief InspTenkorangsaid accused used the money the collected from complainant to purchase a Hyundai Elantra 2012 model from a witness in the case.

Prosecution said when Kota was granted police enquiry bail, he asked witness to transfer documents covering the car into a different person’s name, and backdate purchase records, but his efforts were thwarted. -GNA

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