Counterfeit - NVTI Student in court

Accra, March 25, GNA - A student of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) has been put before a Circuit Court in Accra for possessing counterfeit notes with a face value of one million cedis. Yaw Sanda, alias Old Man, pleaded not guilty to possessing forged notes and he was granted a 30 million-cedi bail to reappear on April 5. The Court presided over by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh cautioned that persons found dealing in fake currencies would face the full rigours of the law.
"This dubious practice has become rampant in the system and offenders must be punished to serve as a deterrent" he said.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Frimpong told the Court that the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) was reliably informed about Sanda's involvement in fake currency deals. ASP Frimpong said the BNI upon the tip-off, placed Sanda on surveillance.
Prosecution said an undercover agent onetime approached Sanda and expressed interest in fake currency transactions.
Prosecutor said after he had gained some confidence in the Agent, Sanda agreed to supply him with fake one million cedis in 10,000 cedis denominations for genuine 500,000 cedis.
ASP Frimpong said sometime in March last year, Sanda collected genuine five hundred thousand cedis from the Agent and within some few hours produced one million fake currency notes.
Prosecution said immediately Sanda brought the fake currency the surveillance team arrested him and upon interrogation he mentioned one Kassim as his source of supply, but could not assist the Police to trace him. 25 March 04