Businessman granted bail on fraud charge

Akyem Swedru, Jan. 15, GNA - The Akyem Swedru Circuit Court on Monday granted a 60 million cedis bail with two sureties to Stephen Atta Frimpong, a businessman, for allegedly defrauding a nurse of 50 million cedis.

Frimpong pleaded not guilty and would reappear on January 18. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Ben Osei-Kwadwo told the court that in September last year Frimpong introduced himself to the nurse as an agent of US visa lottery.

The accused told the nurse that nine young men who were bachelors had won a ticket each of the lottery and if the complainant were ready with 100 million cedis he would assist her.

Frimpong told the nurse that he would add the names of two of her daughters to partner two of the winners as their wives to travel with them to the US by November last year.

The nurse expressed interest and the accused requested her to pay 50 million cedis to enable him to process documents for the journey. Both parties agreed that the remaining 50 million cedis would be paid when the daughters of the complainant had gone abroad. The prosecutor said the complainant did not hear from the accused for a long time and reported him to the police who arrested Frimpong. Police found that Frimpong used part of the money to buy a Toyota Corolla car and deposited 10 million cedis in a bank. The vehicle and the money were retrieved.