Couple remanded over fraud

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Thursday remanded into police custody a couple for allegedly collecting 6,500 dollars from an American engineer under the pretext of clearing his goods in Ghana.

Augustine Aghoghobbia, a businessman and Antoinette Gahornu, a hairdresser, have been charged with conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences.

They have pleaded not guilty before the Court presided over by Mrs Doris Bempong. The two are expected to reappear on November 23.

Police Inspector Michael Jubiok, told the court that the complainant= , Don Fell, resides in the United States of America while the couple reside= s at Lashibi in Tema. Insp. Jubiok said Mr Fell had been communicating with the accused persons and others in a fraud syndicate. According to the prosecution, two weeks ago, the complainant arrived= in the country to collect his cleared goods, which had been shipped from the=

United Kingdom. Insp. Jubiok said Aghoghobbia, who gave his name as Oliver, posed as= a Customs, Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS) officer in charge of the complainant's two bags in a bonded warehouse.

The prosecution said Mr Fell paid 6,500 dollars to the accused perso= ns as clearing fees. On November 3 this year, Aghoghobbia called the complainant saying t= he bags had to go through scanning and another CEPS officer who was in charg= e of the bags was demanding additional 500 dollars. The complainant, who did not comprehend the inconsistency of the sai= d deal, reported the matter to the police. The prosecution said the police arranged with the complainant to pay=

500 dollars to accused persons.

When Antoinette came to collect the money she was apprehended and escorted to the Dansoman Police Station and her husband was later picked up. Insp. Jubiok said the couple in their respective caution statements denied collecting 6,500 dollars from the complainant.