Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - Nii Monotey Yemofio, a businessman, who allegedly defrauded the management of Unicredit Loans and Savings Limited of 78,750 Ghana cedis using different false accounts, on Tuesday appeared before a circuit court in Accra.

He pleaded not guilty to eight counts of fraud and forgery and was remanded into Police custody to re-appear on December 21, 2009. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Frimpong, told the court that on March 9,this year, management of Unicredit detected fraud at some of its branches in Accra and reported the matter to the Police.

He said during investigations some suspects including the accused and Jemima Ashiley now a prosecution witness, were arrested, while the rest absconded. DSP Frimpong said the accused was the head a fraud syndicate that established false companies and opened accounts using different identities. Prosecution said on November 24, last year, the accused employed the third accused person who was at large to open two accounts at the Katamanto branch of Unicredit for Dormain Trading Enterprise and Crosspack Enterprise Main using the name Doris Main with a fake Ghanaian passport H1611514 and addresses.

DSP Frimpong said on different occasions the accused also assisted the second accused person Jemima, now a prosecution witness to open different accounts at the Apenkwa and Dome branches of the bank with fictitious documents on non-existent companies.

Prosecution said on February 28, this year, three forged cheques bearing the signature of the proprietors of Thanks and Glory Enterprise were issued by the syndicate for 16,200 Ghana cedis, 18,250 Ghana cedis and 14,100 Ghana cedis and presented and paid into the false accounts of Crosspack Enterprise, Dormain Trading Enterprise and Aboua Agyeiwaa Enterprise.

He said on the same day two other forged cheques of 15,900 Ghana cedis and 14,300 Ghana cedis were also presented and paid into the false accounts of Holoydy Ventures and Dormain Trading Enterprise.

DSP Frimpong said on March 2 and March 3, this year, the accused persons went to the Apenkwa and Kaneshie branches of the bank and withdraw all the monies lodged into the fraudulent accounts totalling 78,750 Ghana cedis. He said later when the debits of the withdrawals reflected in the accounts of the victims they protested to the management and denied issuing those cheques which were still in their cheque books.

DSP Frimpong said a report was made to the Police who conducted investigations resulting in the arrest of some suspects including the accused. Prosecution said the accused who denied any knowledge of the crime was released on Police enquiry bail.

DSP Frimpong said during further investigations, the accused admitted knowing the second and third accused persons and promised to assist the Police to arrest them. Prosecution said instead of assisting the Police to arrest the other suspects, the accused assisted them to hide from the Police.

DSP Frimpong said on December 9, this year, Jemima was arrested and she confessed her involvement in the crime and stated that the accused employed her to open different accounts at the various branches of the bank.