Two businessmen granted bail for fraud

Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - Two Businessmen, who allegedly collected 60,000 dollars from an Indian Businessman under the pretext of supplying him with 50 kilograms of gold on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with conspiracy to defraud by false pretences. The pleas of Alhaji Mohammed Boye Bussari and Nana Adusei, both Businessmen, were not taken.

The Court presided over by Mr Nathaniel Osam admitted Bussari and Adusei to bail in the sum of 100 million cedis each with two sureties each to reappear on March 8.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police Paul K. Frimpong said on January 4, the complainant Mohammed Salim, a Dubai-based businessman and gold dealer, arrived in the country with his business partner on the invitation of Bussari and Adusei.

On their arrival, Bussari met and took them to Moon Rose Hotel at Adenta to accommodate them.

ASP Frimpong said on January 5, Bussari picked Salim and his partner to his residence where they met Adusei. In Bussari's house, the two accused persons showed them a box said to contain gold. Thereafter, Bussari and Adusei collected an amount of 10,000 dollars from Salim under the pretext of using it to process all relevant documents covering the minerals.

ASP Frimpong said Bussari later visited Salim at his Hotel and collected additional 24,000 dollars to enable him to complete the processing to avoid being embarrassed by the law enforcement agencies. He said because of the trust that Salim had in Bussari, especially both of them being Muslims, he was prepared to part with any money demanded.

The Prosecutor said the two accused persons realising the ignorance of Salim demanded additional money for more gold, adding that Salim, who was short of money had to send a message to his Company in Dubai for money to be transferred to him.

ASP Frimpong said when the money arrived; Bussari accompanied both Salim and his partner to cash 26,000 dollars, thus bringing the total amount to 60,000 dollars.

He said the accused persons handed over certain keys purported to be those of the box allegedly containing the gold to Salim and told him to take a lead to Dubai and promised to ship another consignment to him. However, the box did not contain gold and they also failed to honour their promise.

ASP Frimpong said Salim, having realised that he was defrauded, came down and reported the case to Madina Police. He said when the two accused persons were arrested they admitted transacting gold business with Salim by selling three kilograms of gold worth 36,000 dollars and Salim paid 34,000 dollars.