Court orders investigation into fake currency dealers

Mr Tsatsu Azumah, a magistrate at the Sekondi District Court, on Thursday ordered a thorough investigation into a an allegation by an accused person that he deals in fake currency with his complainant.

The magistrate handed over a fraud case he was hearing to the Western Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigations into their alleged dealing in fake currency.

He gave the order when the accused person, Joseph Ekow Addo, a shoe seller in Accra, alleged that he and the complainant, Robert Gyedu, a chemical seller in Takoradi, deal in fake currencies. Addo, who was charged with defrauding Gyedu of 2,500 dollars, said the two of them and others were dealing in fake currency supplied them from Lome, Togo.

He denied that Gyedu gave him the money to purchase a car for him, saying, the money was rather to be exchanged for a "Grade A" fake currency.

Addo said Gyedu reported the matter to the police because he was supplied with "Grade B" instead of "Grade A". He alleged that Gyedu has benefited from the fake currency deals and he, Addo's selling of shoes at night in Accra was only a cover-up.