419 group remanded over 60-million cedi fraud

Tema, Sept. 13, GNA - The Tema Circuit Court 'B' has remanded an driver for defrauding two men, whom they promised to sell vehicles to at the Tema Harbour. The pleas of Emmanuel Attah Fawa, unemployed, Alfred Dotse, clearing agent, and Daniel Amu, driver, were not taken, because police investigations into the case were still going on. The three will re-appear on Thursday, September 23. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edith Nutakor told the court presided over by Mr Stephen Teye that, on August 27, this year, the accused persons telephoned the two complainants that they had brought into the country some vehicles and needed money to clear them from the Tema Harbour.

Chief Inspector Nutakor said the accused persons were able to convince the complainants that if they were given 60 million cedis to clear the vehicles, each of them (the complainants) will be given one vehicle of his choice. The prosecution said after discussions, the accused persons sent the complainants to the car park at the Tema port and showed them a Mercedes Benz 208, Opel Saloon Car, among a large number of vehicles. Chief Inspector Nutakor said the complainants were asked to make their choices, so that after clearing the vehicles, they could take away.

The prosecution said, while the complainants were being shown the vehicles, security men at the port monitored their movements. Chief Inspector Nutakor said when the complainants handed over the money to the accused persons, security men on duty quickly arrested them and sent them to the Tema Serious Fraud Office. The prosecution said during initial interrogations, it came to light that the accused persons were members of a 419 scam.