An interior decorator accused of defrauding an overseas client of $94,000 under the guise of executing a home renovation project in Takoradi has been granted bail by the Dansoman Circuit Court.
Presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, the court granted bail to 38-year-old Salih Arab in the sum of GH¢650,000 with three sureties, one of whom must present property documents as collateral.
All sureties are required to be public servants. The accused was further directed to surrender his passport and report to the police weekly.
Salih Arab is standing trial for allegedly obtaining money under false pretences after failing to honour a contract to refurbish a five-bedroom house in Takoradi, intended as a family home for the parents of Ari Ben Moses, an Australian-based Ghanaian.
Brief fact
According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the complainant, Karen Ama Moses—a teacher based in Sekondi—filed the case on behalf of her brother, Mr Moses, who resides in Australia.
In June 2023, Mr Moses hired the accused to execute comprehensive interior renovation and furnishing works at the newly built residence. After inspecting the building, Arab reportedly claimed that structural issues threatened the building’s integrity and needed urgent attention.
Acting on this information, Mr Moses authorised Arab to engage the necessary technical support to correct the alleged defects. However, Arab later assured him that he was capable of handling both the structural repairs and interior work, promising to complete the job by December 2023.
Trusting this assurance, Mr Moses transferred a total of $94,000 to the accused. But instead of delivering on the agreement, Arab is said to have done only minimal work, using existing materials such as sand and cement already on-site, and then abandoned the project altogether.
Red Flags and Confrontation
When the project stalled, the complainant raised concerns with her brother. A Quantity Surveyor was subsequently engaged in September 2023 to assess progress. The assessment revealed that only a fraction of the agreed work had been done.
A follow-up meeting in Accra, attended by the complainant’s brother, the accused and the Surveyor, ended with Arab admitting to mismanaging the funds. He issued a partial refund of GH¢200,000 and pledged to reimburse an additional $50,000 in monthly instalments beginning February 2025. However, no further payments were made.
A professional valuation by the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited in January 2024 estimated the completed works at just GH¢108,527.81—far below the amount received. With an outstanding value of GH¢858,733, a formal police complaint was lodged, leading to Arab’s arrest.
Court Proceedings
At his first appearance, Arab pleaded not guilty. His legal counsel appealed for bail, arguing that he had a fixed address in East Legon, family ties in Ghana despite being a foreign national, and posed no flight risk.
The defence also described the matter as a civil dispute arising from a failed contract, rather than a criminal offense.
Prosecutor Chief Inspector Wonder, however, opposed the bail application, stressing the accused’s foreign nationality and potential risk of absconding.
He also noted that Arab’s presence was needed to assist police with ongoing investigations at the project site.
The prosecution hinted at possible amendments to the charge sheet and said the case might be referred to the Attorney-General due to the large financial implications.
Despite the objections, the court granted bail under strict conditions.
The matter has been adjourned to June 23, 2025, pending legal advice from the Attorney-General’s Department
