Police officer in court for defrauding 10 persons

Accra, Aug. 21, GNA - A Police Inspector who was accused of defrauding nine persons of 180 million cedis under the pretext of selling to them Police auctioned cars and securing visa for another on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Adrew Vortiah, who was formerly of the Greater Accra Regional Police Public Relations, is facing 10 counts of defrauding by false pretences. Vortiah pleaded not guilty and the court admitted him to 200 million cedis bail with sureties to reappear on September 25, 2006. Mr George Abavelim, Assistant Superintendent of Police, told the Court that complainants came from different parts of the country. Between August, 2005 and July 7 2006 Vortiah whiles on interdiction made representations to nine of the complainants at different times that he was going to sell to them some auctioned vehicles at the Police Headquarters.

Prosecution said Vortiah took the complainants to the Police Headquarters to inspect some impounded vehicles that were to be sold. He further sent some of the complainants to the Ghana Commercial Bank, boundary road, Adabraka where they paid monies into his accounts, which he allegedly presented to them as an official Police auction account. The Prosecution alleged that Vortiah also took some of the monies and issued them with receipts.

Vortiah, however, after collecting the monies failed to provide the vehicles and the visa. The Prosecution said the complainants, therefore, petitioned the Inspector General of Police and investigations were conducted. Vortiah admitted collecting monies but indicated that he had refunded some monies to some of the complainants.

Prosecution said Vortiah had since refunded 10 million cedis to the Police.