A forex trader, Abdul Hayyu Oubou, is alleged to have defrauded a Chinese businessman, Guo Yao Ben, living in Ghana, off GH¢1,141,590 and US$1,900.
Oubou allegedly misappropriated the amounts under the pretence that he could effect the transfer of those funds to the suppliers of oil and printing materials in Singapore and China at a time he knew the claim was false.
The accused has been changed and pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences and forgery of official document.
He was put before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Afia Owusuaa Appiah, on Monday and admitted to a bail condition of GH¢1 million with three sureties to be justified.
Mrs. Appiah further held that the accused deposit his passport and Ghana Card with the Registry of the court, and also report to the investigator of the case pending the determination of the matter.
The accused was admitted to his previous bail conditions because this was the fourth time the charge sheet and brief facts had been amended.
The suit was adjourned to November 11, 2023.
Background
The brief facts as narrated by the prosecuting officer, DSP Afesi, to the court are that Guo Yao Ben was the complainant, and he and the accused had been doing business for the past five years.
However, sometime in May 2023, the complainant contracted SINOPEC LUBRICANT (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD and SHAGAI JANHONG NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO.LTD to supply him with painting materials and oil from Singapore and China.
The complainant discussed it with Abdul Hayyu Oudou, who promised to facilitate the transfer of the money to the companies on his behalf.
On May 17, 2023, the accused demanded and took GH¢1,141,590 and US$1,900 from the complainant under the pretext of facilitating payment into the companies’ accounts.
The court heard that the accused sent his brother, one Alhassan Adamu, to go with the complainant to a bank, where an amount of GH¢1,141,590.00 and $1,900 were withdrawn and handed over to him for onward delivery to the accused.
The prosecuting officer added that due to the intention to defraud, the accused handed over fake swift receipts, indicating payments of US$43,800.00 and US$60,000.00 to the complainant.
Abdul Hayyu Oudou also alleged that on March 1, 2023, the complainant called him with a private number and took US$30,000 from him, which the complainant denied.
The accused admitted having received GH¢1,141,596 and US$1,900 from the complainant, but alleged that he in turn gave them to a friend by name Frank, who also gave him the fake receipts.
When the accused led the police to the office of the said Frank at Tema Community 1 old Ghana Commercial Bank, they were told that the bank had been moved to a different location five years ago.
Meanwhile, inquiries extended to the new location revealed that only ladies had been working in the MoneyGram section of the bank for the past five years.
During investigations, the accused admitted the offence and has since been charged with the offences.
