British National Defrauded

A 26-year-old pastor, Michael Nelly Akorli has been arraigned before the Accra Circuit court for allegedly defrauding a 46-year-old British National under false pretences.

The accused who did not turn up on the first hearing, pleaded not guilty on the second hearing and was granted bail in the sum of GHҐ 36,000.

On the adjourned date of November 12, 2009, however, the counsel for the accused did not appear and again the case has been adjourned to November 30, 2009.

According to the prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Sarkwah, the complainant, Maureen Veronica Charles, an Estate Developer who resides in London was introduced to the accused through a telephone conversation by one Tina, a resident in London in 2006. Later in the year the complainant was invited by the accused to the country.

Inspector Sarkwah said, while in Ghana, the accused assisted her to trace some Ghanaians who had duped her in London and were arrested by the Kotobabi police.

The complainant returned to London and gave the accused Power of Attorney to collect monies refunded through the Kotobabi police and transfer the money into her accounts in London.

In 2007, the prosecutor said, the complainant came to the country and got married to the accused, who unknown to the complainant already had a wife.

The complainant left for London after the marriage. Whilst in London the accused requested for several sums of money which amounts to £11,692 from the complainant with the pretence of securing a passport, visa and 'immigration fee' to join her in London, but did not.

According to the prosecutor, after several months without hearing from the accused the complainant became suspicious and came down to Ghana in August 2008.

The accused upon hearing of her presence in the country turned down all invitations to see her.

On August 13, 2009 a report was made to the police and the accused was arrested. He admitted to the offence against him.