The Dansoman Circuit Court has ordered the remand of two traders, Mustapha Mohammed and Dauda Mohammed, in police custody over their alleged involvement in the theft of US$60,000 entrusted to them for business purposes.
Presiding Judge Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit issued the remand order following the suspects’ appearance in court on June 4, 2025. Both pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing, abetment of crime, and deceiving a public officer.
The case has been adjourned to June 16, 2025, to allow police to continue investigations.
Brief fact
Presenting the facts, Chief Inspector Kwadwo Aboagye told the court that on May 22, 2025, the complainant, Hassan Muntari, a businessman based at Awoshie, handed over US$60,000 to Mustapha Mohammed at Okaishie. The money was meant for delivery to a contractor in Achimota, who was to return the equivalent sum of GH¢720,000 in Ghana cedis.
According to the prosecution, Mustapha had assured the complainant that the contractor urgently needed the funds and that he would return with the cedi equivalent later that day. However, after collecting the money around midday, Mustapha failed to return as promised.
When the complainant attempted to contact him, Mustapha claimed that he had been robbed by four men on two motorbikes and was receiving treatment at Achimota Hospital.
The matter was reported to the Achimota School Police Station, where Mustapha stated that the alleged robbery occurred around 6:30 p.m. on the same day. However, subsequent investigations exposed major inconsistencies in his account.
An analysis of Mustapha’s phone records indicated that he had not been near the alleged robbery location at the time claimed. In addition, local hawkers in the area confirmed to police that they had witnessed no such robbery.
The Role of the Second Accused
Further investigation led to the arrest of Dauda Mohammed, who confessed that the entire robbery claim was fabricated. Dauda admitted that he had conspired with Mustapha to divert the money.
According to Dauda’s statement, he was facing financial difficulties and had convinced Mustapha to hand over the funds so he could use them to clear goods at the Tema Harbour. He promised to repay the money with interest after selling the goods.
Instead, Dauda and another accomplice, Zakaru Musah (currently at large), allegedly took the cash to a spiritualist, known only as “Mallam”, in a misguided attempt to have the money “magically doubled.” Both Zakaru and the Mallam subsequently vanished with the cash.
Upon realising they had been duped, Dauda allegedly advised Mustapha to fake a robbery to cover up the scheme. Mustapha is said to have inflicted an injury on himself before reporting the false robbery to the police.
Charges and Investigation
As a result of the investigation, Mustapha Mohammed now faces three charges:
Stealing, contrary to Section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
Abetment of crime
Deceiving a public officer, contrary to Section 251 of the same Act
Dauda Mohammed has been charged with abetment of crime.
Police investigations are ongoing, and efforts are underway to arrest Zakaru Musah and the spiritualist Mallam, both of whom remain at large.
