Michel Bowman Amuah, who doubles as a Management Consultant and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Technology Fund Africa Limited, has been charged, together with Eunice Osei Owusu, a former staff of Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG), for stealing.
Michel and Eunice were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, defrauding by false pretence, and stealing of US$15,000.
Michel is the only one standing trial, as Eunice has absconded.
He was dragged before the Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
The accused is currently on GH¢800,000.00 bail, and the case was presented by ASP Emmanuel Haligah.
Narrating the brief facts, he said the complainant in the case was Richard Amartey, Chief Executive Officer of Dreamcast Consult Limited.
He told the court about the work that Michel does for a living, and added that Eunice Osei Owusu was a Relationship Officer and former employee of Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG).
ASP Haligah stated that on July 9, 2021, the police received a complaint from Mr. Amartey that somewhere in September 2020, Tribe Capital Limited introduced Michel to him to assist him secure a foreign loan for a hostel project at the University of Ghana, Legon.
In order to facilitate the loan process, Michel informed the complainant that they had to open an escrow account with CBG in the name of Technology Fund Africa Limited and Dreamcast Consult Limited, with both parties as signatories.
It was further agreed that the complainant was to deposit a refundable amount of US$15,000.00 into the said account for the payment of financial charges that may result in the course of the transactions, which he did.
The complainant was made to fill and sign a signature form for the opening of the supposed escrow account, where an amount of US$15,051.19 was deposited on September 16, 2020.
The complainant further alleged that Michel connived with Eunice to transfer the US$15.051.19 from the supposed escrow account without his consent.
On March 2, 2022, Michel was arrested and admitted knowing the complainant, but denied making any false representation to him in order to defraud him off the US$15,051.19.
Meanwhile, Michel could not provide any evidence of work done in respect of the correspondence between the foreign bank and Technology Fund Africa Limited.
Investigations established that the complainant, in the company of Michel, went to the Head Office of CBG and met one Florence Boahene to open an escrow account for them.
It was further disclosed that Florence Boahene did not complete the account opening process, but forwarded the mandate or signature card, together with the cheque of GH¢88,200.00, equivalent of US$15,051.19, to the Dzorwulu branch of the bank where Michelâs company account was domiciled.
Florence Boahene sent an email detailing the intentions of the complainant and Michel, which Elvis Jude Delali Afirim, a Relationship Officer, confirmed receipt of the document, email and the cheque, and handed them over to Eunice.
Eunice, after receiving the documents, connived with Michel and failed to open the escrow account, and rather opened a new account in the name of Technology Fund Africa Limited, of which Michel was the sole signatory.
Eunice was the Relationship Officer for Michelâs companyâs account and was the person who completed the account opening process.
This gave Michel the right to dishonestly transfer US$10.600.00 and US$4,450.00 on August 12th and 16th 2021, to Technology Fund Africa Limitedâs other account with the bank without the complainant knowing.
