Three in court for duping pensioner of 80 million cedis

Bekwai (Ash), July 9, GNA- Three persons including a hotelier who allegedly duped a pensioner, Mr Mathias Agbatohu, of 80 million cedis under the pretext of doubling the money for him have made their second appearance before a Bekwai circuit court. They are Desmond Amadu Katsina, a businessman and hotelier at Bekwai, Alhassan Amadu and Ali Abukari both resident in Lome, Togo. The accused pleaded not guilty to fraud and were each granted bail in the sum of 80 million cedis to be justified they were remanded to re-appear on July 14.

Police Inspector E.D. Koranteng told the court that the pensioner, who was an employee of the Audit Service, came to Bekwai on transfer from Tamale six years ago. For lack of official accommodation he lodged at a hotel owned by Katsina for four years during which period they became good friends. He said the friendship continued even after Mr Agbatohu had been allocated an official bungalow two years ago. Katsina convinced the pensioner after collecting his pension benefits that he knew of a friend in Togo who could double the money for him.

Inspector Koranteng said Katsina later introduced Amadu and Abukari to Mr Agbatohu as those who could double his money. The three held series of meetings with the pensioner during which they collected various sums of money totalling 80 million cedis from him. They later went into hiding and a report was made to the police who arrested two of them at Obuasi and the other person in Accra en route to Lome.