Court orders police to re-investigate fraud case

Kumasi, May 5, GNA- A Kumasi circuit court on Wednesday ordered the police to conduct fresh investigations into a case in which a Burkinabe trader has been charged with duping two sisters. Hajara Rukaya was alleged to have stolen the suitcase belonging to the two sisters. The bag was said to have contained jewellery, six pieces of wax print and clothes, all valued at 14 million cedis and cash of six million cedis.

The order followed submission by her counsel that she was wrongly arrested and that he (counsel) had ample evidence to prove that the accused was not the one who duped the sisters.

Hajara was therefore granted 20 million cedis bail with one surety to justify and will re-appear on May 29.

Chief Inspector Kuffuor Boateng told the court that Yaa Achiaa and her sister, Nana Yaa, who are also traders, arrived at the Neoplan station in Kumasi from Accra on April 17, this year.

He said immediately they alighted from their bus, Hajara approached and told them that she was a Burkinabe trader who had also just arrived in Kumasi and needed to be directed to a nearby forex bureau to change her money.

Chief Inspector Boateng said when Achiaa directed the accused to a nearby forex bureau, she hesitated and insisted on knowing their names so that she could show her appreciation for their kindness. He said Hajara then asked them to accompany her to Asafo which is close to the Neoplan station so that she could give them gold bars and diamonds.

The prosecution said on their way, the accused ordered the driver to stop and asked the sisters to buy some chemicals from a nearby store to be sprinkled on the gold bars.

Chief Inspector Boateng said the two sisters had the shock of their lives when they found that the Burkinabe had vanished with their suitcases containing their jewellery, pieces of wax print, clothes and cash on their return.

A report was therefore made to the police and the accused was arrested on April 26 at Nerebehi near Nkawie in the Atwima district following a tip-off and during interrogation, she allegedly admitted the offence.