A forty-four-year-old driver who is accused of defrauding a Police officer and a teacher of GH¢58,000 has been remanded by the Achimota Court.
Benjamin Osei Sarpong is said to have collected GH¢30,000 from the officer and GH¢28,000 from the teacher under the pretext of securing them Canadian visas, but failed.
Sarpong claimed he gave the money he collected from the complainants to the late John Kumah, former Member of Parliament for the Ejisu Constituency.
Charged with two counts of defrauding by false pretences, Sarpong has pleaded not guilty.
Sarpong was remanded after the prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ahiale opposed bail because the Police had asked Sarpong to appear before the court on June 19, but he failed.
According to ASP Ahiale, following Sarpong’s failure to appear in court, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
ASP Ahiale said it has taken the Police more than five months to get the accused person to appear before the court, although all parties had been alerted to appear before the court.
Sarpong told the court that he was unwell and travelled to Sefwi Yamfo, where he had no reception to receive or make calls. He, however, admitted receiving a call from the case investigator over the matter.
He told the court that he only heard about the matter four days ago, and he came to court with an amount of GH¢10,000 to be paid to the complainants. Sarpong told the court that on June 19, he was in court, but the court did not sit.
The trial judge, after checking the records, noted that Sarpong was not in court on June 19, although the court sat that day and issued a bench warrant.
After listening to the submissions of the prosecution and the accused’s explanation, the court remanded Sarpong into custody to reappear on December 3.
DSP Ahiale, narrating the facts of the case, said the complainants, whose names are withheld, are siblings in Accra and Kumasi, respectively, while Sarpong resides at Odorkor, Accra.
Prosecution said in October 2023, the complainants discussed their intention of travelling to Canada for a visit with a friend.
The said friend later introduced Sarpong to the complainants as someone who could help them secure Canadian visas. After several meetings, Sarpong convinced them that he could secure the visas for them at a cost.
Based on that representation, Sarpong collected GH¢30,000 and GH¢28,000 from the complainants, respectively. Sarpong, after collecting the money, failed to honour his promise and began giving the complainants numerous excuses.
The complainants reported the matter to the Police, and on April 22, 2024, Sarpong was arrested.
Prosecution said during investigations, Sarpong admitted the offence but stated that he gave the money he collected to the late former MP for the Ejisu Constituency, “with the knowledge of his wife.”
Sarpong, however, failed to lead the Police to the late MP’s wife.
Source: GNA
