Businessman before tribunal for issuing dud cheques

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March '99 --

Jackson Esiamah, a businessman, yesterday appeared before an Accra circuit tribunal, charged with issuing dud cheques totalling 5.9 million cedis. He pleaded not guilty and was granted two million cedis bail to reappear on March 31. The case for the prosecution is that in August, last year, the accused travelled with Madam Paulina Nsiah Asare, a trader, to Obomeng (Kwahu) for a funeral. During the journey, the accused showed interest in the distribution of drugs Madam Asare had imported from the USA. The prosecution said the accused convinced Madam Asare that he was a druggist and had customers who needed the type of drugs she had. Madam Asare later supplied him with the drugs and the accused issued her two post-dated cheques, one for 3.5 million cedis to be cashed on November 25, 1998 and the other for 2.4 million cedis, on December 11. Both cheques were dishonoured so the complainant reported the matter to the police.