Two remanded for deceiving security personnel

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - A 30-year-old man, who collected one million cedis from the security agents with a promise of using the money to assist them arrest an illegal money printer but bolted, was on Thursday put before a Circuit Court in Accra.

Kwabena Adusei and his accomplice, Richard Akwasi Takyi have been charged with three counts of deceit of public officers. They pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Ankamah but were remanded into prison custody to reappear on August 21.

The facts as presented by Inspector Swanzy Bennett Sarfo are that on June 11, Adusei approached security agencies at the Ministry of The Interior where he offered to assist them to arrest syndicates behind fake currency printing in the country.

Inspector Sarfo said Adusei and security personnel visited Gbawe, where he identified some houses as belonging to Takyi, where the printing of fake notes allegedly took place.

On July 4, the Police mounted an operation and an aide at the Ministry of Interior, who was part of the operation, was given one million cedis to purchase some of the fake currencies. The Prosecutor said when they got to Mallam, Adusei collected the one million cedis after alighting from a taxicab and asked the rest of the security personnel to wait while he lures Takyi with the money so that he could be arrested.

The Prosecution said Adusei entered the house and never returned. Adusei went into hiding until on July 29, when he visited the Ministry again and he was arrested.

During interrogation, Adusei alleged that when he parted company with the security personnel; he met Takyi, who seized the money after which he (Takyi) sent him to Buduburam where he was locked up for two weeks.

"Adusei further alleged that he was released on July 20," the Prosecution said.

Inspector Sarfo said on August 4, Adusei led the Police to Mallam where Takyi was arrested.

When Takyi's house was searched, three pieces of brown papers cut into the shape of US dollars and 66 pieces of plain papers cut into currency notes were found.

Takyi, however, denied seeing Adusei, seizing the one million cedis and kidnapping him.