A 30-year-old student, who allegedly defrauded two people of a total amount of GH¢14,000, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢12,000 with two sureties by the Enchi District Magistrate Court.
The plea of accused, Matthew Afful, a student of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, was not taken, and the case has been adjourned to June 13, 2019, for hearing.
Detective Sergeant Joseph Kwadwo Agyare told the court, presided by Mr Eric Baah Boateng that, the complainants live at New Yakasi, near Enchi, in the Aowin municipality.
Prosecution said in July, 2018, accused approached the first complainant, Margaret Cudjoe, a trader, at her residence, and told her that he knew a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) in Accra by name Vincent, who has been assisting interested individuals to be enlisted into the Ghana Police Service.
According to Sgt Agyare, the accused said he wanted to help the complainant’s daughter, a Senior High School graduate, to enroll into the security services, and demanded GH¢2,500 to be given to the DCOP, to facilitate the recruitment process.
Following the assurance, the prosecution said, the complainant gave the amount to Afful to be given to the so-called DCOP.
Sgt Agyare said weeks later, the accused went to the complainant again and informed her that he had liaised with the DCOP, and he demanded additional GH¢5,000, to complete the recruitment exercise.
Prosecution said the complainant told the accused that she could not afford the additional amount, and Afful said that the money she (complainant) paid earlier would not be refunded if she failed to pay the remaining amount.
He said the complainant was compelled to raise GH¢5,000, making a total sum of GH¢7,500.
Sgt Agyare said accused also used the same modus operandi to extort GH¢6,500 from Philomena Ngoah, an SHS graduate.
He said after the money had been given to Afful, he asked the first complainant’s daughter to go to Accra and meet the DCOP for the enlistment prospectus.
Sgt Agyare said the complainant’s daughter was stranded for two weeks in Accra without setting her eyes on the said DCOP, and she had to return home.
He said the accused later gave her a fake enlistment brochure to be given to the victim and absconded.
Sgt Agyare said all efforts made by the complainants to trace the accused for their money proved futile.
The Prosecution said on May 31, 2019, the accused returned to Enchi, and the complainants reported him to the police, and he was arrested for investigations. –GNA
