Student granted bail for fraud

A 30-year-old student who allegedly defrauded two people of an amount of GH?14,000 has been granted bail in the sum of GH?12,000 with two sureties by the Enchi District Magistrate court.

The accused person, Matthew Afful, a student of the University of Development Studies, Wa campus plea was not taken.

Detective Sergeant Joseph Kwadwo Agyare told the court, presided over by Mr Eric Baah Boateng that, the complainants live at New Yakasi near Enchi in the Aowin Municipality.

He said in July 2018, the accused person approached the first complainant, Margaret Cudjoe, a trader, at her residence and told her that he knew a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) in Accra by name Mr Vincent, who has been assisting interested individuals to be enlisted into the Ghana Police Service.

According to Detective Agyare, the accused said he wanted to help the complainant's daughter, a Senior High School graduate to be part of this golden opportunity and therefore demanded a sum of GH¢2,500 to be sent to the said DCOP to facilitate the recruitment process.

Following the assurance, the prosecution said, the complainant gave the amount to Afful to be given to the so-called DCOP.

He said weeks later, the accused went to the complainant again and informed her that he had liaised with the said Mr Vincent and he is demanding for an additional GH¢5,000 to complete the recruitment exercise.

The Prosecution said the complainant then told the accused that she cannot afford that amount, but Afful retorted that the money she paid earlier could not be refunded if she failed to pay the remaining amount.

He said the complainant was compelled to raise the GH¢5,000 making a total sum of GH¢7,500.

Detective Agyare said accused later used the same modus operandi to extort GH¢6,500 from Philomena Ngoah, an SHS graduate.

He said after the money had been given to Afful he asked the first complainant's daughter to go to Accra and meet Mr Vincent for the enlistment prospectus.

The prosecution said the complainant’s daughter got stranded for two weeks in Accra without setting her eyes on the said DCOP and had to return.

He said the accused later gave her a fake enlistment brochure to be given to the victim and absconded.

Detective Agyare said all efforts made by the complainants to trace the accused for their money proved futile.

The Prosecution said on the 31st May, 2019, the accused returned to Enchi and the complainant's reported him to the police where he was arrested for investigations.

The case has been adjourned to June 13, 2019 for hearing.