Two persons busted for alleged fraud

Two persons who allegedly sold metals believed to be bicycle parts to a Ghanaian chef based in Denmark under the pretext of supplying him with 50 pieces of crude oil separator valued at GH¢24,000, on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

They are Michael Anokye, trader and Isaac Asamoah, a Barber.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to two counts of defrauding by false pretences and attempting to commit crime and were admitted to GH¢10,000 bail each with sureties to re-appear on June 16.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Peter Nsoh, prosecuting, said the complainant Thomas Ayirebi is a Ghanaian chef based in Denmark while the accused persons were based in Accra.

He said on May 16, this year, the complainant received a call from someone who introduced himself as Charles, an engineer at Tullow Oil Company at Takoradi.

ASP Nsoh said the caller told the complainant that the company had a shortage of a metal device called crude oil separator which could be imported from Saudi Arabia at a high cost but knew one Tamakloe in Accra who had the product in a warehouse and that, the complainant could buy them at a cheaper price from him and resell to the company at higher price.

The caller then gave a mobile phone number to the complainant to contact Tamakloe on it.

He said at about 1600 hours on the same day, the complainant had another call from one Robert who introduced himself as Manager of Tullow Oil Company and that Charles had asked him to contact the complainant for the supply of crude oil separator and requested for an initial supply of 30 pieces the next day.

ASP Nsoh, said the complainant developed interest in the deal and immediately called Tamakloe on phone but a lady answered the call and told the complainant that Tamakloe was out of town but could transact any business on his behalf.

He said it was agreed that between the lady and the complainant, 50 pieces of crude oil separators valued at GH¢54,000 would be supplied at the Kwashieman overhead bridge by the lady’s secretary at GH¢1,800 each.

The prosecutor said on May 18, the complainant met the secretary as agreed and made a part payment after inspecting the products, the complainant left with the sample to the Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra to meet Robert the alleged Manager of Tullow Oil Company.

He said Robert approved of the quality of the product and asked him (complainant) to bring the remaining pieces, but before the complainant could get to Kwashieman, his driver informed him on phone that the secretary had bolted with the rest of the products and money.

ASP Nsoh said the complainant tried reaching the secretary and the engineer but all their phones were off, he then made a report at the Accra Central Police.

He said on May 21, the complainant succeeded in getting in touch with the lady and engineer Charles, and requested that he should supply 20 pieces of the crude oil separator at GH¢36,000, and requested the complainant to meet them the next day at Somanya for the goods.

ASP Nsoh said on May 22, at about 12.00 noon, the complainant met the two accused persons near a petrol filling station with the goods and in the process of paying for the goods raised the alarm and the accused persons were arrested and sent to the Somanya Police station and later to the Accra Central Police for investigations.

He said in their separate caution statements, Anokye admitted the offence and told the Police he was part of a group which defrauded the complainant at Kwashieman but only took GH¢1,800 from him and not GH¢24,000 as being alleged.

ASP Nsoh said Asamoah admitted travelling to Somanya to deliver the products to the complainant but said he was just a messenger and acted upon the instruction of one Yeboah but could not lead the Police to arrest the said Yeboah.

He said investigations revealed that the metals were bicycle parts being sold on the market at GH¢1.00 each.**