An Indian national, M. Nareswal Singh, 45 and businessman, has been accused of defrauding a Clearing Agent, Francis Cole, off US$60,000.00.
Singh was arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court last Thursday on the count of defrauding by false pretences, but has pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, remanded the accused into police custody for further investigations to be conducted into the matter, and by which the case was adjourned to December 5, 2022.
The facts of the case, as presented by ASP Maxwell Oppong, was that the complainant, Francis Cole, is a resident of Tabora, while the accused lives at Cantonments, all in Accra.
He said, during the month of September 2021, the complainant wanted to buy a Lexus LX570 vehicle, 2019 model, and in the process, contacted the accused who deals in automobile.
According to him, the accused convinced the complainant that he had the said vehicle at his warehouse in Canada, and that if an amount of US$60,000.00 was given to him, he would ship the vehicle to Ghana for the complainant.
The police prosecuting officer added that the complainant made part payment of US$50,000.00 to the accused on September 22, 2021, and paid the balance of US$10,000.00 two weeks later.
The accused, after receiving the money, promised the complainant that the car would be delivered within two months.
Unfortunately, the accused, after receipt of the money, started to give the complainant unjustifiable excuses anytime he demands a refund of his money.
“Upon persistent demands, the accused refunded US$15,000.00 to the complainant and went into hiding. All efforts made by the complainant to locate the accused proved futile,” he added.
As a result, on October 27, 2022, the case was reported to the police for investigation, and the accused was arrested on November 15, 2022.
The accused admitted taking US$60,000.00 from the complainant to supply him with a Lexus LX570 vehicle 2019 model, but failed.
The court was informed that the accused refunded another US$5,000.00 during investigation, after which he was charged with the offence and brought before court.
