Court remands fraudster in prison custody

A driver resident at Madina in Accra, Joseph Morgan on Monday appeared before a Sekondi District Magistrate's Court for fraudulently collecting 600 Euros from six persons under the pretext of securing visas for them to watch the World Cup in Germany.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences, was remanded in prison custody to re-appear on Thursday June 15.

Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Adu Kyeremeh said on February 7 this year, the accused and Nana Yaw, his accomplice who is now at large, arrived in Sekondi and falsely claimed they had links with the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD.

He said the accused and Yaw claimed they could assist interested people to procure German visa to watch the World Cup tournament. Police Sergeant Kyeremeh said Kojo Gownas, one of the complainants in the case, who is a nephew of the accused expressed interest and paid 300 Euros in cash to the accused and his accomplice in respect of himself and two others.

The prosecution said Julius Hamilton another complainant, who was later introduced into the deal, also paid 300 Euros in cash to the accused.

Police Sergeant Kyeremeh said the monies paid to the accused and his accomplice were initial deposits in respect of six persons under the pretext of procuring the necessary documents within a month to enable them travel to Germany.

He said after collecting the monies, the accused person went into hiding until he was spotted in Accra on May 8 this year and was arrested and handed over to the pol