Businessman appears in court for an alleged attempted fraud

Emmanuel Owusu, alias Abuga, a self-styled businessman who allegedly attempted to defraud a businessman under the pretext of supplying CMC Oil Drilling Grade, a chemical used by oil companies, on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

The accused pleaded not guilty to attempting to defraud by false pretences and was granted GH¢50,000.00 bail with two sureties.

The case had been adjourned to July 9.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Peter Sekyi, prosecuting said both the complainant and the accused are businessmen and sometime in June this month, the complainant received a call from someone, who introduced himself as one Owusu Bempah, an employee with Kosmos Energy at Cape Three Point.

He told the complainant that personnel from Kosmos Energy were on their way to Accra to purchase the CMC Oil Drilling Grade for the company and wanted to involve the complainant in the business.

DSP Sekyi said the accused gave the complainant a contact number of one Frimpong who had the chemical for sale and directed the complainant to buy the chemical from Frimpong and supply same to the company for profit.

He said the complainant contacted Frimpong on his cell phone and he confirmed having more in stock. Frimpong then told the complainant that some people had been producing fake chemicals on the market and would first supply him with sample for $500.00 to show to the personnel from Kosmos Energy for approval and later supply more.

DSP Sekyi said the complainant, who had been duped before by this same procedure, became suspicious and reported the matter to the Police.

He said on June 19th this month, the accused met the complainant with a sample of the chemical for $500.00 but was arrested in the process.

DSP Sekyi said subsequently when the accused was asked to send the Police to his house, he rather took personnel to a residence he had vacated for the past three months.

He said currently he had no place of abode and usually slept in hotels.

DSP Sekyi said the accused in his caution statement admitted the offence and stated that he was sent by one Nana Prempeh Frimpong to deliver the chemical to the complainant for the said amount, but refused to lead the Police to Nana Frimpong.**