Ayittey Powers’ case takes long break

The case of Michael Ayittey Okine alias Ayittey Powers, a renowned Ghanaian boxer accused of taking money from two businessmen in Kumasi amounting to GH¢14,000 under the pretext that he would secure them visas, has taken a long break.

This is to enable the prosecution to get witnesses to testify in the trial.

When the case was called for hearing, the judge, Aboagye Tandoh, had it adjourned to February 9, 2015.

The accused person and his counsel, Jerry Shaib, were in court.

Ayittey Powers was initially put before the court – then presided over by Audrey Kocuvie-Tay – and charged with defrauding by false pretenses.

He pleaded not guilty and has been granted a Ghc50, 000 bail with two sureties.

Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Isaac Agbemehia said the complainants are Nana Oppong Yaw of Asuoyeboah and Kofi Asante of Abrepoh Junction in Kumasi.

According to him, in November 2013, the accused person took advantage of his boxing profession to acquire visas for some Ghanaians to travel to Australia as part of his boxing team.

He said some Ghanaians resident in Australia who heard the deal went and saw the boxer and told him they wanted some family members to join them, and he promised he could assist them with the acquisition of visas.

The prosecutor stated that in view of that, one Nana Oppong gave Ayittey Powers Ghc6, 500 while another person by name Asante, paid him Ghc7, 500. Ayittey then took their passports and told them that he was going to acquire visas for them.

According to the prosecution, even though the complainants were not boxers, the accused person acquired boxers’ identification cards for them from the boxing authority, which he forwarded to the Australian High Commission and showed evidence of it to the complainants on February 12, 2014.

Narrating further, the prosecutor said the complainants were not satisfied with the turn of events and asked the boxer to refund their money but he failed to do so.

Chief Inspector Agbemehia said the victims reported the matter to the police and the boxer, defeated in a tournament by Braimah Kamoko, alias Bukom Banku – another Ghanaian boxer a few months ago – was consequently charged to court.