By Helena Selby
A bench warrant has been issued by an Accra circuit court for the arrest of a trader, Dzifa Acolatse, who allegedly defrauded three people of a total amount of GH¢7,244.

The accused person, with the aid of her accomplice, one Desmond, who is currently at large, last year December, were alleged to have collected hampers at a total price of GH¢3,494 from a complainant, who is a businesswoman.

She collected the items with the pretext that some staff members of the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) were in need of them and that the money will be paid after the supply.

The accused person also allegedly succeeded in deceiving one Saviour, and parted with GH¢1,650 with the excuse of selling him a car and a home theatre sound system. Additionally, with the aid of her accomplice, they succeeded in defrauding another complainant of an amount of GH¢2,100.

She is facing two counts of defrauding by false pretense, contrary to section 131 of Act 29/60 and stealing, before the court, presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh.

The underling facts are that in December 2011, the accused person went to the first complainant and lied that the staff of ADB-Accra Central branch had contacted her to supply them with hampers, consisting assorted products.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester told the court that she convinced the complainant and linked her to speak to the Manager of the bank, who later turned out to be his accomplice, by name Deemond, who is currently at large, adding that the complainant released the hamper to the accused person and never heard from her again.

The prosecutor further noted that the accused person, in March 2012, met one Savoiur Connah and convinced him that her husband's brother, who is resident abroad, had sent some cars and goods for sale.

He mentioned that the accused person, as a result succeeded in parting away with the sum of GH¢1,650 from the said Saviuor, under the pretext of selling him one of the cars and a set of home theater sound system, which he refused.

'Similarly, in Febuary 2012, the accused person convinced another complainant that her husband had asked her to come for GH¢2,100 to purchase some chemicals for his cattle, and when he returns from Hohoe, he will bring the money', the prosecutor told the court.

He said the accused person called someone purporting to be her husband, who turned out to be the said Desmond and succeeded in taking the money.

According to Chief Inspector Charles Chester, later when the husband was contacted he denied knowledge of it following which a report was made to the police resulting in the arrest of the accused person.

The prosecutor then noted that during investigation the accused person admitted the offence and pleaded to be given some time to pay but could not honour her promise.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to find the whereabouts of the said Desmond, the prosecutor told the court.