Self-styled contractor remanded in custody for alleged fraud

Agona Swedru (C/R), July 19, GNA - An Agona Swedru Circuit Court has remanded in to prison custody a self-styled building contractor who allegedly defrauded a London-based Ghanaian of 6,500 pounds. Neenyi Ghartey, who hails from Winneba, pleaded not guilty to defrauding under false pretext and would reappear in court on July 20. Detective Inspector R.A. Boamah, told the court, presided over by Mr Charles Wilson, that the complainant is a Ghanaian based in London, while the accused is resident at Winneba.

He said in August, 2005, Madam Abigail Jackson, the complainant during her visit in Ghana came in contact with the accused who introduced himself as a building contractor based in Winneba. He said the complainant contracted him to put up a building for her in Winneba, and transferred moneys totalling GH(20,000 (200 million cedis) to him from London through the Winneba branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank and also International Commercial Bank in Accra. In addition to the transfer, the accused also demanded 2,500 pounds from the complainant for customary rites to be performed by the landowners, the court heard.

Inspector Boamah said the accused failed to put up the building for the complainant as agreed but rather, he sent a photograph of a building to the woman who later arrived in Ghana just to realise there was no building on her plot.

The prosecution said the complainant did not see the accused again until he was arrested from his hideout upon a tip off in March this year. According to the prosecution the accused was facing similar trial at Awutu Beraku Magistrate's Court.