A Lebanese man, Al-Zoubuyr Chaaban, has been arrested at the Kotoka International Airport for carrying thousands of fake United States dollars.
The Accra Circuit Court ‘1’, presided over by Prosper Duelove Gomashie, was told that Chaaban, 25 and pastry chef, had in his possession fake currency notes in the sum of US$10,000.
Chaaban was, therefore, accused of possession of forged currency, and pleaded guilty simplicita.
The court, in response, slapped Chaaban with 700 penalty units (GH¢8,400), in default two years imprisonment.
The court handed down the sentence yesterday, April 20, 2022, after Chaaban’s plea was taken on Wednesday, a day before his conviction.
The court put into consideration the convict’s age, which suggests that he was relatively young.
Brief facts
According to the prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Richard Amoah, Al-Zoubuyr Chaaban is a Lebanese, a pastry chef, and of 25 years of age, adding that the convict was also a resident of Abelemkpe in Accra.
The prosecuting officer stated that on December 20, 2021, the convict was travelling to Lebanon from Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), but during the check-in process, US$10,000.00 was found on him.
He said the amount was in US$100 note denomination, which the convict had in his carry-all bag.
C/Insp Amoah said the convict’s fake dollar notes were discovered by officers of the Narcotics Control Commission stationed at the Airport, adding that Chaaban was arrested and sent to the National Intelligence Bureau for investigation.
The prosecuting officer said during interrogation, the convict admitted and claimed ownership of the bag and its content.
He narrated to the court that the convict told the investigation that he bought the fake currency notes from Turkey to shoot a music video in Ghana, but that intention could not materialise.
The prosecutor said the supposed US$10,000 was sent to the Bank of Ghana to ascertain their genuineness, which it confirmed that the US$100 notes were fakes.
