Unemployed in court for fraud

Accra, June 14, GNA - Michael Opoku Agyemang, a 22-year-old unemployed appeared before a circuit court in Accra charged with collecting 168 million cedis; 1,000 Dollars and 2,000 Euros from three persons under the pretext of arranging to get them vehicles being auctioned at the Castle Osu.

Agyemang pleaded not guilty to three counts of defrauding Mr Kofi Amofa and Mr Kenneth Ashigbeng, Accra-based businessmen, by false pretences and was admitted to 200 million cedis bail with two sureties. He would reappear on June 27.

The facts of the case, as presented by Police Chief Inspector Helena Sarpomah were that on May 6, 2005 Agyemang contacted Mr Amofa and collected 70 million cedis and 2,000 Euros from him under the pretext that he could arrange to procure a Toyota Prado car being auctioned at the Castle. She said the accused used the same reasons to collect 50 million cedis and 1,000 Dollars from Mr Ashigbeng to get him a Mercedes Benz car within three days.

The Prosecutor said Agyemang went into hiding after collecting the monies, but on May 19, he was arrested at his hideout at a hotel in Kumasi. Chief Inspector Sarpomah stressed that while at the Police station, one Abigail Ohene-Brenya identified Agyemang as the man who collected 48 million cedis from her under the pretext of procuring a Golf car for her, but failed to do so.

The Prosecutor said in Agyeman's caution statement, he admitted all the charges preferred against him by the complainants and pleaded with the Police to give him time to refund all the monies.