An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, has remanded a 33-year-old clearing agent, Samuel Adade, into police custody for allegedly defrauding an Egyptian, Mahmud Ahmed, off an amount of GH¢183,000.00 by false pretence.
Adade was remanded by the court on Monday, November 21, 2022, after having pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretences, an offence contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, (Act 29).
The case, as presented by the prosecutor, DSP Augustine Yirenkye, was that during October this year, the accused approached Mr. Ahmed, who is a businessman and a complainant in the case, that he had connections at Ghana Port and Harbor Authority, and with GH¢183,000.00 he would be able to clear his goods for him in two days.
The prosecuting officer said the complainant obliged and paid the said amount to the accused in the presence of witnesses in the case.
Meanwhile, after the payment was made, he said the accused started playing hide and seek with the complainant, which made the businessman become alarmed and reported the matter to the police.
As a result, the accused was arrested at Sowutum and he was handed over to the Accra Regional Police Command for further investigation.
On November 18, 2022, the accused admitted the offence and alleged that he gave part of the money to somebody at the Tema Port.
The accused allegedly stated in his caution statement to the police that after paying part of the money to his accomplice at the Tema Port, the other half was also stolen from him by thieves.
Although he failed to report the alleged theft to the police, the accused promised to refund GH¢105,000.00 to the complainant, but that commitment never materialised.
The court was informed that an investigation conducted by the police revealed that the accused was aware that he was not in the position to clear the goods from the Tema Port at the time he demanded the said money from the complainant.
