Musician in 4,000-dollar fraud

A musician accused of collecting 3,200 dollars and 250,00 cedis from a drummer, to secure an American visa and other travelling documents for him, on Wednesday appeared before a circuit tribunal in Accra.

Ignatius De-Paul Junior pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences and was granted 20 million cedis bail with one surety to be justified. The case is rescheduled for January 4, 2001.

Mr. Mohammed Nabon, the tribunal chairman, ordered that the justification should be in the form of landed property.

The Prosecution’s case that was that on March 9 this year the accused informed the complainant, Mr. Patrick Dodzi Amedzekor who doubles as trader, that he has a dance band, "Wadada and the Black Heroes," which was preparing to travel to America to perform.

De-Paul told Mr. Amedzekor that one Mr. Michael Schimmen of the United States Embassy in Accra was assisting him to secure a group visa and other relevant travelling documents for his band.

De-Paul offered to include Mr Amedzekor in the group provided he could pay 4,000 dollars for the necessary documents.

The drummer made a part payment of 2000 dollars and on March 31, De-Paul told him that his friend at the embassy had completed processing the visa and therefore, needed the balance.

Mr Amedzekor paid 1,200 dollars and 250,000 cedis but De-Paul failed to produce the visa. Under pressure to refund the money, the accused arranged for Mr. Amedzekor to attend an interview but he was refused the visa.

He said Mr. Amedzekor made a report to the Bureau of National Investigation where De-Paul promised to refund the money.

The accused went into hiding until Mr. Amedzekor heard that the Osu police had arrested him for a similar offence.