Herbalist remanded in prison custody for an alleged fraud

Cape Coast, May 27, GNA - A Cape Coast Circuit Court on Tuesday remanded Benjamin Christian Ashun 32, a herbalist into prison custody for allegedly defrauding a South Africa-based Ivorian businessman in the sum of 120,000 dollars under the pretext of supplying him computers and accessories.

Ashun's plea was not taken and would re-appear on Tuesday, June 3. Police Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court presided over by Mr Richard Asiedu Badu that between February and April this year, Ashun visited the complainant in South Africa and promised to supply him with computers and accessories and managed to convince him to part with 120,000 dollars.

He said as soon as the accused received the money he failed to supply the computers and bolted to Ghana. Police Chief Inspector Azasoo alleged that on May 19 this year, the accused called the complainant and asked him to pay another 20,000 dollars to enable him clear the goods in Ghana and send them to La Cote d'Ivoire. He said complainant asked Ashun to meet him at Kotoka International Airport for the money and he alerted Cleveland Police in South Africa who advised him to report the matter to the police in Ghana. Police Chief Inspector Azasoo said the complainant contacted his Ghanaian friend in Cape Coast who went to the airport with the police who arrested Ashun who was waiting for the complainant to arrive with the money. He said Interpol Ghana, was liaising with their South African counterparts to determine where Ashun should be tried.