The Circuit Court 6 in Accra has granted Joy Rizk, a 46-year-old Managing Director of SO-Company Ltd, bail in the sum of GH¢400,000 over allegations of defrauding by false pretences and issuing a false cheque.
The court, presided over by His Honour Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah, granted the accused bail with two sureties, one of whom must be justified. The case has been adjourned to October 15, 2026, for mention.
Rizk is alleged to have obtained GH¢380,000 from a businessman, Makafui Sam Kenneth in June 2026 under the pretext of supplying him with 350 boxes of Onga seasoning cubes, but allegedly failed to deliver the goods.
According to the prosecution, the accused contacted the complainant at the Ashaiman Market and represented that he could supply the goods through SO-Company Ltd. The complainant allegedly paid the full amount in reliance on the representation, but the accused failed to supply the goods as agreed.
The prosecution further alleged that Rizk subsequently issued the complainant a Zenith Bank cheque valued at GH¢360,000 as part payment of the amount owed.
The cheque was presented for payment, but was dishonoured, prompting the complainant to report the matter to the police.
The accused was subsequently arrested and, according to the case facts presented to the court, admitted the offence in his cautioned statement to the police.
He has been charged with defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and issuing a false cheque, contrary to Section 313A(1) of the same Act.
Bail application
During proceedings, defence counsel Roselyn Ama Nkum applied for bail under Section 96 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1960 (Act 30), citing the cases of Kpebu No. 1 v. Attorney-General and Okoe v. The Republic.
Counsel argued that the accused was employed full-time by XO Trading, where he had worked for more than five years, and was married to a Ghanaian national with whom he had a son.
She told the court that the accused had a fixed place of abode at Spintex and was willing to assist the police with investigations whenever required.
Counsel also argued that the dispute was essentially civil in nature and alleged that the complainant was using the police as a debt-recovery agency.
She maintained that the complainant had previously conducted business with the accused and had received goods from him in the past.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Stanley Fiotso, did not oppose bail but urged the court to impose conditions requiring the sureties to justify their means or, alternatively, for one to be a civil servant earning at least GH¢10,000 a month.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused had collected money for a single transaction but failed to deliver the goods, adding that granting bail would enable him to make payment to the complainant.
After hearing both parties, the court granted Rizk bail of GH¢400,000 with two sureties, one to be justified. The prosecution was also directed to file the relevant processes and serve them on the defence or the accused. Chief Inspector Stanley Fiotso represented the prosecution, while Roselyn Ama Nkum appeared for the accused.
In another development, the Accra Circuit Court has remanded a 23-year-old dispatch rider, Randy Ashong, alias Pepe, into police custody over his alleged involvement in a series of robberies targeting residents in parts of the Greater Accra Region.
Ashong is accused of conspiring with Emmanuel Lartey, an 18-year-old mechanic, and other accomplices currently at large to rob unsuspecting members of the public at Haatso, Madina, Pantang and Dansoman.
The accused persons appeared before the court, presided over by His Honour Dennis E. Furney, on October 16, 2026.Their pleas were not taken, and the court remanded them into police custody to reappear on November 3, 2026.
Chief Inspector Felix Koomson appeared for the Republic. Ashong and Lartey are facing charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, contrary to Sections 23(1) and 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Arrest and investigations
According to the prosecution, the Accra Regional Police Command arrested the two accused persons on October 8, 2026, in connection with a series of alleged phone-snatching incidents and robberies in the affected communities.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects and their accomplices allegedly used powdered pepper to attack and overpower their victims before stealing their mobile phones and motorbikes.
The prosecution further alleges that the suspects were involved in the theft of goats, mobile phones and motorbikes, although the number of items involved and their total value have yet to be established.
During investigations, the two accused persons allegedly confessed to their involvement in the criminal activities, according to the police.
The police are continuing investigations to establish the identities of the victims and identify the other suspects who are currently at large.
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