Herbalist before court for fraud… As he poses as a car dealer

A Traditional Herbalist was yesterday arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for defrauding a retired banker of the sum of GH¢10,500.00 with the purpose of buying him a vehicle in August 2007.

The accused person, Togbi Amuzu, a resident of Kakasunanka, a suburb of Tema, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court presided over by Mr. D.E.K. Daketsey granted him bail to the tune of GH¢20,000.00 with two sureties.

The accused person is, therefore, to re-appear before the court on August 18 2009.

Presenting the fact before the court, the Prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Baidoo indicated that in August 2007, the complainant, Mr. Victor Osei Bonsu approached and discussed with one Kudzo Doh Nukpetor, a.k.a. Ogbo Nana, a carpenter working on a building belonging to the former, about his intention to buy a Benz saloon car.

According to the prosecutor, Ogbo Nana subsequently introduced the accused person to the complainant as a car dealer, who buys and sells cars from the Republic of Togo.

“The complainant gave an amount of GH¢ 3000.00 to Ogbo Nana at Teshie Agblezaa in the presence of his wife, Dora Osei Bonsu and one Kofi Abass. Ogbo Nana in turn gave the money to Togbi Amuzu”, the Prosecutor told the court.

Furthermore, the Prosecutor noted that the accused person took the complainant and Ogbo Nana to Togo, ostensibly to buy the car, but could not purchase the vehicle as a result of the high cost of the product.

He then told the court that in January 2009, Mr. Osei Bonsu decided not to purchase the Benz saloon car any longer and therefore demanded a refund of his money. However, the accused person convinced the complainant the he could help him a Tipper Truck, which will generate income for him, in view of the termination of his appointment.

Mr. Osei Bonsu consequently agreed and allegedly gave the accused person an additional GH¢ 5,000.00 at Tema Motorway Roundabout in the presence of Dora Osei Bonsu and Ogbo Nana as witnesses.

However, the accused person could not fulfill his promises, the Prosecutor told the court.

Additionally, the Prosecutor indicated that during the course of investigation, the complainant and one Evans Tetteh lodged a report of the case to the Military Police at Michel Camp, where the accused person, who initially denied taking any money from the complainant, later, admitted when Ogbo Nana came to testify.

The prosecutor pointed out that Ogbo Nana had testified that he was present when GH¢5000.00 was paid to the accused person and even saw the complainant giving something to Togbi Amuzu at the Tema Motorway Roundabout, but could not see the actual object because he was seated at the rear of the car.