The Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢800,000 with three sureties, one to be justified with land title deeds, to a 43-year-old businessman, Thomas Mensah, who has been charged with three counts of defrauding by false pretences.
Thomas Mensah, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of defrauding a businesswoman of a total of US$62,000 under the pretext of importing and supplying various goods, including second-hand bags, diapers, and bathroom slippers.
According to the court’s bail conditions, all three sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. Thomas Mensah is also required to report to the police once every week and deposit his Ghana Card and passport at the court’s registry.
The court further directed that the case docket be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Office since the amount involved exceeds the substantive prosecutor’s limit.
The case was adjourned to November 17, 2025.
The Charges
Thomas Mensah faces three counts of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, told the court that the complainant, Akua Adubofour, is a businesswoman residing at Adjiringanor, but operates at Kantamanto, Accra. Thomas Mensah, the accused, is also a trader living at Santa Maria.
In 2023, the complainant’s business partner introduced the accused to her as an importer of second-hand bags and other goods from China.
Thomas Mensah allegedly confirmed this and claimed he worked with several Chinese companies capable of supplying any products she requested.
Relying on his representations, Adubofour reportedly paid US$10,000 to Mensah to supply diapers, but he failed to deliver.
Later, she allegedly gave him an additional US$50,000 to import 750 to 800 sacks of second-hand bags from China, but he again defaulted.
In January 2024, Mensah allegedly took bathroom slippers valued at US$2,000 from the complainant, claiming he would sell them to customers in Kumasi and return the proceeds. He failed to do so and went into hiding.
The complainant subsequently lodged a report with the police, leading to Thomas Mensah’s arrest.
After investigations, he was charged and brought before the court.
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