Mr. Collins Maxwell, alias George Ali Alhassan, an alleged business man, has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for defrauding a Malaysian by false pretence of a sum of US$12,000.
The Accused person has pleaded not guilty to the offence.
In reading the brief facts, the Prosecutor, Inspector Gassan, said that the Complainant, Tan Teik Choon is a businessman and lives in Malaysia while the Accused also claimed to be a businessman and resides at Teshie in Accra.
According to the Prosecutor, in the year 2016, the Complainant was introduced to the Accused by one Ben and Leo on alibaba.com. The Prosecutor explained that the Accused introduced himself to Complainant as the Chief Executive Officer of Odumasi Gold Ghana limited, and told the Complainant that he could sell to him gold bars from his company.
Inspector Gassan added that the Accused also sent a photocopy of his Ghanaian passport with his photograph bearing the name George Ali Alhassan, to the Complainant. The Prosecutor explained that the Complainant got convinced and came to Ghana on 8th November, 2017 and lodged at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
“The Accused met the Complainant at his hotel, demanded and collected US$12,000 for the transportation of 60 kilograms of gold from Tarkwa to Accra”, the Prosecutor said.
Inspector Gassan further narrated that the Accused issued a receipt to the Complainant, signed an agreement and a commercial invoice and handed them to the Complainant. According to the Prosecutor, the Accused took the Complainant to the Police Headquarters under the guise of securing a Police bullion van to be ostensibly used to convey the gold bars from Tarkwa to Accra.
He added that the Complainant was made to wait at the car park at the Police Headquarters whilst the Accused went inside and came back saying that the Police were demanding an extra $6000 to enable them use their bullion van. The Complainant could not meet the demand and the Accused went again to the Police Headquarters and later called the Complainant to go back to his hotel saying he would bring the gold to him in the evening but failed to deliver them.
Inspector Gassan explained that on 12th November, 2017, the Complainant received a call from someone who claimed to be a detective at Achimota Police Station, called DSP Kwaku Owusu, and told the Complainant to pay Gh₵20,000 to him because he had arrested the Accused with 15 bars of gold confirmed by A.A. Minerals which tested the gold bars, or else he would send the Accused to court the following day.
According to the Prosecutor, the Complainant agreed that he should come for the money from his hotel. The Complainant then informed the Police. That evening, the Accused person went to the hotel to collect Gh₵20,000 and was arrested.
The Accused person has been granted bail in the sum of GH₵60,000.00 with three sureties. Two of the sureties are to be public officers earning not less than GH₵1,000.00 a month, and GH₵5,000 to be justification. He has also been ordered to deposit his passport with the Registrar of the Circuit Court.
The case has been adjourned to 12th March, 2018.
Source: Ghanajustice/F.Kyeremanteng
