Two in court for fraud

Accra, Sept.1, GNA - Two persons, who attempted to defraud a farmer of 10 million cedis under the pretext of presenting him with 35 million cedis, appeared at a Circuit Court in Accra on Thursday. Kwabena Amoako, a farmer, Christina Botsi, a trader, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, preparation and attempt to commit crime. They were granted 50 million cedis bail each to reappear on September 16 2005.

Their accomplice Samuel Ansah is at large.

The case presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim was that the Police had a tip off that accused persons were dealing in fake currency.

The source further gave the Police the telephone number of Ansah, now at large.

Prosecution said a Police detective under cover, contacted Ansah and introduced himself as a cocoa farmer from Suhum, who was interested in fake notes.

On August 29 Ansah, therefore, asked the farmer to meet him at Dzorwulu in order to exchange his genuine notes of 10 million cedis with 35 million cedis fakes notes.

Ansah, however, telephoned the supposed farmer saying he was travelling but would ask Amoako to transact the business. Prosecution said the Police, who had laid ambush at the meeting place, arrested accused persons when exchanging the fake notes contained in a nylon bag.

The bag when searched contained some clothing and six bundles of papers cut into the size of 20,000 cedis note covered with a two genuine ones at each end.