Student in police grips for fraud

The Enchi District Magistrate court on Tuesday remanded a thirty-year-old student into police custody for allegedly defrauding two people of an amount of GH?14,000.

Matthew Afful, a student of the University of Development Studies, Wa campus’ plea was not been taken and is expected to re-appear before the court on Thursday June 6, 2019.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Sergeant Joseph Kwadwo Agyare told the court, presided over by Mr Eric Baah Boateng that, the complainants live at New Yakasi near Enchi.

He said in July 2018, the accused person approached the first complainant, Margaret Cudjoe, a trader, at her residence and told her that he knew a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) in Accra by name Mr Vincent, who has been assisting interested individuals to be enlisted into the Ghana Police Service.

Mr Agyare said the accused said he wanted to help the complainant's daughter, a Senior High School graduate to be part of this golden opportunity and therefore demanded a sum of GH?2,500 to be sent to the said DCOP to facilitate the recruitment process.

The Prosecution said following the assurance, the complainant gave the amount to the accused to be given to the so-called DCOP.

He said weeks later, Afful went to the complainant again and informed her that he has laised with Mr Vincent and he is demanding for an additional GH?5,000 to complete the recruitment exercise.

The Prosecution said the complainant then told the accused that she cannot afford that amount, but Afful retorted that the money she paid earlier would not be refunded if she fails to pay the remaining amount.

Detective Agyare said the complainant was then compelled to raise the GH?5,000 making a total sum of GH?7,500.

He said the accused later used the same modus operandi to extort GH?6,500 from Philomina Ngoah, an SHS graduate.

The prosecution said after the money had been given to Afful he asked the first complainant's daughter to go to Accra and meet Mr Vincent for the enlistment prospectus.

The prosecution said the complainant’s daughter got stranded for two weeks in Accra without setting her eyes on the said DCOP and had to return to Enchi.

He said the accused later gave a fake enlistment brochure to the victims and absconded.

Detective Agyare said all efforts made by the complainants to trace the accused for their money proved futile.

The Prosecution said on the 31st May, 2019, the accused returned to Enchi and the complainant's reported him to the police where he was arrested for investigations.