Two "419" syndicate members before court

Two foreigners, suspected of being members of the notorious 419 syndicate, on Thursday appeared before a circuit tribunal for possessing materials and liquids used in printing fake currencies.

Ronald Henson Main, a Canadian and John Chang, an American, pleaded not guilty to preparation to commit crime. They were each granted 10 million cedis bail with sureties to re-appear on February 1.

The tribunal chaired by Mr Ziblim Imoru ordered that the passports of the accused persons, which are with the police be deposited with the court registrar.

The accused persons are to report to the police fraud squad unit every Friday.

They were arrested by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) after a tip-off.

The Prosecution’s case is that Main, staying at St Patrick Home Lodge at Haatso and Chang lodging at an uncompleted building also at Haatso, together with some Nigerians and Liberians always moved out early in the morning and returned very late in the night.

Main and Chang claimed to belong to a Canadian NGO called World Wide Foundation, which they said is not registered in Ghana and not known to their embassies.

Police investigations however showed that the two belong to an international fraud syndicate called 419.

The prosecution said on January 14, the police mounted surveillance on Main and Chang and they were arrested at their homes. When they were searched, the materials used in printing fake currencies were found on them.

Main's passport was found on Chang who claimed he was taking care of it.