Evangelist granted GHc10,000 bail for fraud

An evangelist at Prestea in the Western Region, Abraham Ayisah, has been granted bail in the sum of 10,000 Ghana cedis with two sureties to be justified by a Tarkwa Circuit Court for defrauding by false pretence.

The accused pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on September 11.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr. Justice Kwame Ohene-Essel that, on February 25, this year, the complainant Napoleon Tandoh started a small scale mining business at Enchi with one Uncle Ebo and others.

He said on April 17, the accused joined the complainant's business and later told the complainant that he wanted to rent an excavator to support the one being used in order extract more gold.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said on May 30, the complainant transferred 20,000 Ghana Cedis cash into the accounts of Uncle Ebo to enable him withdraw the money for Ayisah to rent the machine.

He said after withdrawing the money, the accused informed the complainant that he had gone to deposit the money at the Enchi District Assembly for the machine.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the complainant made every effort to take delivery of the excavator for his business without succeeding.

He said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and Ayisah was arrested for questioning.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said during investigation, the accused admitted that he did not give the money to anybody at the Enchi District Assembly but rather used the money to transact his own business.