Businessman Before Court For Fraud

Accra, - 9 June A businessman, who allegedly defrauded two people in various sums totalling 10.8 million cedis, today appeared before an Accra circuit tribunal charged with fraud. Joseph S. Botchwey, 46, who was also charged with issuing dud cheques to cover the amount, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, fraud and issuing dud cheques. He was remanded in custody to reappear on June 27. The tribunal, chaired by Mr Charles Quist, ordered the arrest of Edmund Adentwi, also a businessman, jointly charged with Botchwey, but failed to appear before the tribunal to answer the charges. Police Inspector Alex Yartey Tawiah told the tribunal that Mr Felix E.T. Tometi, a businessman, wanted his son to travel to America and discussed the issue with Dr K. Farkye, a Ghanaian resident in the United States, then on holidays in Ghana. Inspector Tawiah said Dr Farkye said he could not help himself but would look for someone who could assist. The prosecution said in 1996, Dr Farkye introduced Botchwey to Mr Tometi as the man who could assist in arranging for the visa. Botchwey demanded 8.5 million cedis for the exercise which Mr Tometi paid through Dr Farkye. During the same period, Botchwey acconmpanied by Adentwi, an alleged business partner, introduced himself to Ms Dorothy Ahenkorah, an employee of F. Malawi Engineering Limited as the Managing Director of Preface Industries Limited. The prosecution said Botchwey requested for two television sets and a video cassette recorder, all totalling 2.3 million cedis, which were supplied. Botchwey could neither secure the travelling documents for Mr Tometi nor pay for the television and the cassette recorder. He later issued cheques to Mr Tometi and Ms Ahenkorah to cover the amount but all of them bounced, the prosecution said.