CEO in court for gold dust fraud

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - A Chief Executive Officer who allegedly defrauded an American of $1.9 million under the pretext of supplying him with 320 kilogrammes of gold dust, but failed to do so appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday charged with defrauding by false pretences. Mohammed Hafiz Abdallah pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills remanded him into police custody to reappear on August 10. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim who prosecuted said in June a Dubai-based company, Omega Strategic Services, had a contract with Almat Company Limited, a company purported to be registered in Ghana, to purchase 320 kilogrammes of gold dust for export.

The prosecution said based on that Omega Strategic Services executed a separate agreement with the company of the accused known as Halfred Security Services, whom the complainant had contracted to receive all monies paid to Almat Company for the supply of gold. Pursuant to that agreement with Halfred Security Services, Mr Zachery Venegas, Finance and Investment Advisor of Omega Strategic Services Company, transferred $1.9 million through Abdallah's account at Amalgamated Bank in Accra.

The prosecution said despite the transfer of the amount into Abdallah's account, Almat Company Limited failed to supply the gold dust and efforts to receive the gold or refund of the money failed. ASP Abavelim said Mr Venegas became alarmed and therefore travelled to Ghana and reported the matter to the Police who arrested Abdallah. During investigations, Abdallah admitted receiving the money but stated that he withdrew it and handed it over to Almat Company Limited represented by one Kwame Prince.