Court remands trader for fraud

Accra, April 13, GNA - Elizabeth Agyapong, a 31-year- old trader who allegedly defrauded three persons of 69 mobile phones, 123 pieces of wax prints and Nissan Altima salon on Thursday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with fraud.

Elizabeth pleaded not guilty and was remanded her into police custody to reappear on April 27.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim the police needed the accused in their investigations since other cases were brought against her and thus the police needed her in their custody to assist them.

Elizabeth's lawyer however, prayed the court to admit her to bail saying, "what took place between her client and the complainants was purely based on business transaction." According to her counsel, the figures mentioned had been exaggerated and prayed the court to exercise its discretion by admitting her client to bail.

ASP Abavelim told the court that the complainants are traders, namely Mr Gabriel Asante, Mavis Annor, Zamri Mohammed of Sakumono, Accra Central and Adenta respectively. Prosecution said sometime in March this year, Elizabeth contacted Mr Asante through one Solo and collected 69 pieces of mobile phones worth 52,150,000 cedis and promised to pay the same day but disappeared. Elizabeth after absconding, went to Ms. Annor the second complainant and collected 123 pieces of wax prints estimated at 48.5 million cedis and was not seen again. She further went to Mr. Mohammed, the third complainant and collected his Nissan Altima salon car valued at 35 million cedis and went into hiding.

On April 12, this year, when the complainants heard about her arrest at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Service followed up and identified her as the one who defrauded them.