CSIR mechanical engineer remanded for fraud

John Napolean Gbolongo, a mechanical engineer of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), alleged to have defraud, a businessman of 8,700 dollars and 200 pounds was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by an Accra Circuit Tribunal.

Gbolongo, who pleaded not guilty to defrauding, took the money under the pretext of supplying the businessman, Mr Cyril Akrasi, with waterproof cement. He will appear again on February 7.

The tribunal chaired by Mr Ziblim Moru was told that in May 1998 the accused person informed the complainant, Mr Akrasi that CSIR had developed waterproof cement suitable for the construction of water reservoirs.

Gbolongo had said he was working with a company, SOTIN Ghana, which had truckloads of such cement in Cote d'Iviore and if Mr Akrasi could give him money he would get some.

The prosecution said Mr Akrasi paid 8,700 dollars and 200 pounds to the accused person but he failed to deliver the cement.

DSP Sarpong said during investigations, police found that the accused person had no cement in Cote d'Ivoire and SOTIN Ghana did not exist.