Police Constable and another in court for fraud

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - Police Constable Hakim Alhassan, who with three others defrauded a Businessman, appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra on Wednesday.

The others: Alhaji Issa Ibrahim, alias Pascal and Almed Tijani alias Dennis. The third, one General, is now at large. They have been charged with conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences. Alhassan and Ibrahim, who were additionally charged for possessing fake currencies and possessing papers intended to resemble dollars, have pleaded not guilty.

They have been granted 50 million cedis bail with two sureties each to reappear on October 30.

Meanwhile a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of General and Tijani, who was absent from court.

Prosecuting, Inspector Bennett Sarfo said Mr Robert Kwamina Nortey Ocran, an Executive Member of the Mankoadze Fisheries was the complainant.

He said in October last year, Mr Ocran had a telephone call from Tijani, who said that he was the son of the late General Guei of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, who had inherited his father of 16,000 dollars contained in a box.

The Prosecution said Tijani further alleged that a Custom Officer at Elubo had seized the box and he was demanding 400 dollars before releasing it.

The Complainant, therefore, invited Ibrahim to his house and he went there with Tijani and corroborated the story.

Prosecution said they all proceed to a house at Madina, where the said box was collected from Ali after paying the 400 dollars. While returning to the Complainant's house Constable Alhassan, who is from the Kaneshie Police Station, posed as an Assistant Superintendent of Police and intercepted the box.

Constable Alhassan demanded 6,900 dollars before releasing the box and managed to collect 900 dollars with the intent of collecting the rest of the money in February, this year.

Prosecution said earlier Ibrahim had introduced one General as the one, who assisted him to transport the money to Ghana. As a result, Ibrahim collected 3,500 dollars from the Complainant.

The Complainant sensing danger informed the Inspector General of Police and a surveillance team was mounted at the Complainant's house. At about 1830 hours the same day, all the three accused persons went to the Complainant to collect the remaining 6,000 dollars that Constable Alhassan demanded.

The Police arrested the three and a bag carried by Alhassan was found to contain 24 bundles of paper covered with fake dollars. Prosecution said during interrogation they admitted the offence. They have refunded 1,800 dollars.