Businessman in court over fraud

Christopher Animako, a businessman on Friday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with defrauding by false pretenses and money laundering.

Animako is said to have defrauded a Norwegian to part with $39,963 under the pretext of setting up a business in Ghana, but failed to do so.

He has, however, denied the charges and the court presided over by Mr. Francis Obiri has admitted Animako to bail in the sum of GHc90,000.00 with three sureties.

The sureties are to be public servants earning not less than GHc800.00. Animako is expected to reappear on May 14.

The case of the prosecution was that Animako maintains a Cedi account with HFC Bank Ghana Limited, Adabraka branch.

Prosecution said Animako on his mandate form to the bank stated that the account would be funded by revenue from his business.

However, prosecution contended that the account had been funded by foreign inflows equivalent to GHc226,797.00 from May 2012 to March 2013.

Additionally, prosecution said on April 2013, Animako received another foreign remittance of $39,693.00 from one Anita Hintay Bustamante of Norway.

When Animako was quizzed over the monies, he could not provide information on the funds or the remitter, raising suspicion that the funds were received from proceeds of illegal activities.

Later, prosecution said Animako stated that the monies were sent by one Philip Gabah, his purported uncle for a hotel business.

Animako, however, could not provide any information on the said uncle during investigations and documentary proof of the said hotel business.

Prosecution said intelligence report suggests that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities being perpetrated by Animako on different remitters including Ms. Bustamante of Norway.