MP duped ¢6bn

A self-styled businessman, Stephen Marfo, has found himself in the dock after he allegedly defrauded the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Denkyira West, Kofi Benjamin Ayeh, to the tune of GHc600,000 (¢6billion) under the pretext of using it to facilitate the transfer of $25 million from New York in the United States of America to Ghana.

The accused person also reportedly forged documents from Financial Crime and Economic Network in New York in order to convince the MP that the documents were genuine.

He has been put before an Accra Circuit Court and charged with defrauding by false pretences, issuing of false cheque and possessing forged documents. He has, however, denied any wrongdoing.

Francis Obiri, the trial judge, has granted him bail in the sum of GHc600,000 with three sureties, two of who must be public servants not earning less than c1,500.

The case has been adjourned to August 5, 2013.

Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka, the prosecuting officer who presented the facts of the case told the court that the complainant in this case is Benjamin Kofi Ayeh, an MP while Marfo is a self-styled businessman who lives in Accra.

According to him, in the month of August 2012 the accused person collected GHc600,000 from the complainant under the pretext of facilitating the transfer of $25 million from his account at New York to Ghana.

He said Marfo told the MP that the transfer would be completed in two weeks so the MP after going through the documents of the accused person became convinced that the transaction was real and consequently transferred the said amount into the account of the accused.

The prosecutor noted that after taking the money, Marfo went underground until the MP, through his own investigations, located him at his hideout in Dome. When he saw the MP, he issued a Zenith Bank cheque number 000157 with a face value of GHc600,000.

Furthermore, the police officer stated that when the MP went to the bank, the cheque was dishonoured for lack of funds so he went back to inform the accused who has since failed to pay the money and vacated his place of abode.

He said on March 20, 2013 the accused was arrested after a complaint lodged with the police.

The superintendent stated that police investigations revealed the accused person forged a letterhead of Financial Crime Enforcement Network in New York to convince the MP to part with the money and was accordingly charged.