Herbalist granted GH¢30,000 bail over fake currency

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A 58-year-old herbalist has been granted a GH¢30,000 bail with a surety to be justified by a Kumasi Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a trader under false pretext.

He is alleged to have collected an amount of GH¢24,300 from Madam Frimpongmaah, the trader under the pretext of doubling the ammount.

Kwame Mensah, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, would re-appear on January 15, 2009.

Police Inspector Nana Amofa, prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr Eric Baah that, Madam Frimpongmaah, the complainant and others took loans from the Opportunity International Bank to boost their businesses.

He said the money she received got short of GH¢700 and was later contacted by the accused son that the father had powers to double the money for her.

The prosecutor said Mensah therefore charged a fee of GH¢650 for his service but he failed to fulfil his part of the deal and rather sold a box full of Ghanaian currency notes to the complainant.

He said the complainant later realised that the notes were fake when she used some of money to buy a bottle of drink. The bar attendant rejected it insisting it was fake currency.

The prosecutor said the issue was sent to a local radio station and a formal report was made to the police leading to Mensah's arrest.

Mensah's counsel, Mr Dei-Kwarteng argued in court that it was not true the accused made a representation to the complainant and explained that the complainant never paid any money to the accused person and that, he was even trapped to the radio station.

Mr Dei-Kwarteng therefore prayed for bail for his client since he is a well-known herbalist, a man of substance and it was not in doubt that he would fail to appear in court.