A 36-year-old trader, Samuel Owusu Amoako, has been hauled before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a businessman of GH¢242,500 under the pretext of supplying 500 gallons of cooking oil.
Charged with defrauding by false pretences, Amoako pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the court presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah. He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢150,000 with three sureties.
The court heard that the accused had so far refunded GH¢50,000 to the complainant.
The case has been adjourned to June 2, 2025.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Cornelius Kusi Amoako (no relation to the accused), is a self-employed businessman residing at Baatsona in Accra, while the accused lives in Teiman, also in the Greater Accra Region.
On June 14, 2024, the complainant reportedly transferred GH¢242,500 into the Fidelity Bank account of a company identified as J.S.B Logistics Limited, which is allegedly linked to the accused.
The payment was for the supply of 500 gallons of cooking oil at GH¢485 per gallon, to be delivered to Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Bono Region.
However, after receiving the funds, the accused allegedly failed to deliver the goods and went into hiding.
In an attempt to reassure the complainant, the accused later instructed him to meet one “Ali” in Dormaa-Ahenkro for the consignment. When the complainant travelled there, he found no oil and no trace of the individual.
Efforts to reach the accused proved unsuccessful, leading the complainant to file a formal complaint with the Baatsona Police on March 27, 2025.
Subsequently, on April 20, 2025, the complainant was informed that the accused had been arrested in Sampa, located in the Bono East Region, in connection with a similar fraudulent transaction.
With the help of police investigators, Amoako was transferred to Accra. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to taking the money under false pretences, a confession made in the presence of an independent witness.
