A 31-year-old Clinical Psychologist and a 46-year-old driver have been put before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly conspiring to defraud a forex trader of $70,000 under the pretence of exchanging it for its cedi equivalent.
The accused, Abdul Munaf Lawal, also known as “Doctor,” and Johnson Owusu Ansah have both pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing and abetment of crime respectively, contrary to Sections 124(1) and 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The case, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, has been adjourned to May 12, 2025.
Narrating the facts of the case to the court, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder explained that the complainant, Hamza Fuseini, a forex trader at Rawlings Park, in Accra, was contacted on April 8 by a colleague to facilitate the exchange of $60,000 for cedis on behalf of the first accused.
Munaf, who was in Kumasi at the time, arranged the trip to Accra using a rented Toyota Land Cruiser driven by the second accused, Ansah. A third accomplice, currently at large, also joined the trip.
Upon arrival in Accra, Munaf allegedly increased the amount to $70,000 and scheduled the exchange at the Ecobank branch on the University of Ghana campus.
The complainant, after securing the additional funds, handed the full amount to intermediaries who met Munaf at the bank.
However, after receiving the cash, Munaf claimed he was going inside the banking hall to verify the money and disappeared.
Prior to the incident, Munaf had reported to Legon Police that he was pursuing individuals who had previously defrauded him. This, prosecutor argues, was a calculated move to distract from his own actions.
When police arrived at the location, Munaf was missing, but they found the vehicle and detained Ansah, along with the intermediaries involved in the transaction.
Following the incident, Ansah was taken to the station, but later absconded with the vehicle after the accomplice at large rejoined him and they allegedly picked up Munaf en route to Kumasi.
Police investigations led to their arrest and a search at Munaf’s residence yielded $10,000 and GH¢20,000 in cash.
Munaf’s counsel argued for bail on medical grounds, stating that he has a fixed job and a place of abode, presented sureties, and would not interfere with investigations.
Ansah also sought bail, noting his cooperation with police and stable family life in Kumasi, where he is employed by the vehicle rental service involved in the case.
However, the prosecution opposed bail, citing the ongoing investigation, the flight risk posed by the accused, and the presence of other suspects still at large.
The prosecution further noted that both men lack fixed residences in Accra.
Her Honour Abdul-Baasit acknowledged that the accused had been in custody for over a week but ruled that due to the quantum of the amount involved and the pending arrest of accomplices, the case should be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s office for advice.
Both accused were remanded into police custody.
