An 80 year-old fraudster says "I am too weak to go on remand"

Accra, May 2, GNA - An 80-year old herbalist accused of defrauding a couple of 10,000 Ghana cedis under the pretext of securing them United States Visa's on Friday stunned audience at an Accra Circuit Court when he told the court that he was old and weak and therefore should not be remanded.

When the court wanted to find out from the couple why they handed over their monies to the accused, they were not in court to answer. The court after finding out the age of the accused remarked "Numo be Ga," meaning, "there is no old man in Accra" This sent the audience laughing. Brain Suleman aka Alhaji Mahama was said to have told the couple that, his nephew, known as Mohammed was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and NEPAD could secure them the visas. He said Mohammed is however at large. Suleman charged with conspiracy and two counts of defrauding by false pretences pleaded not guilty. He admitted to 10,000 Ghana cedis bail to reappear on May 29, this year.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Aidan Dery said the first complainant Madam Ama Afrakumah is a trader living at Asawase, Kumasi with her husband Nana Kofi Osei, a farmer and traditional ruler who is also the second complainant. Accused is based in Accra and Salaga in the Northern Region Prosecution said in December 2006, Madam Afrakumah received some monies from her sister to enable her travel to the United States.

Madam Afrakumah's husband, Nana Kofi Osei discussed the issue with Sulemana who told them that he has a nephew working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and could assist them secure travelling documents and a visa. Sulemana then convinced Madam Afrakumah to come to Accra and he took them to Club 1,000 a popular spot at Pig Farm, Accra and introduced a young man as his nephew who was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

With assurance that he was going to secure her visa, Sulemana collected Madam Afrakumah's passport and 2,400 Ghana cedis, which were converted to dollars and handed over to him. Sulemana started demanding various sums of money from the complainant on behalf of his nephew and by the end of January 2007, he had collected 4,500 Ghana cedis. Prosecution said during the same period, Sulemana cooked another story saying that there was another opportunity for a second person who wanted to travel. Under this pretext, Lawrence Nimo Nkrumah alias Nana Kofi Osei started paying monies totalling 5,500 Ghana cedi towards the acquisition of his passport and visa to the United States.

Prosecution said in March last year, Sulemana asked the two complainants (the Couple) to travel to Accra in readiness to travel to the US but that turned to be a hoax. In January this year, Sulemana asked the couple to come to Accra for the second time to embark on their trip to the US but they were left stranded at the Neoplan Station, Circle. Prosecution said neither Sulemana nor his nephew could be traced. However on April 29, this year, Suleman was on the verge of defrauding Steve Kodua, brother to the complainants whom he had lured from Techiman to Accra for similar offence. Suleman was arrested and during police interrogation, he admitted the offence but said he did not know the whereabouts of his nephew.