GRi in Court Ghana 21 - 02 - 2001

Two Miners before tribunal for fraud

Two Miners before tribunal for fraud

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Two miners, who defrauded an Indian business executive of 403.5 million cedis under the pretext of supplying him with 15 kilograms of pure gold on Tuesday appeared before a circuit tribunal in Accra.

Nana Osei-Bonsu, 63 and Nana Yaw Osarfo, 26 pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence. The accused persons, who were granted 100 million cedis bail with one surety to be justified, will reappear on March 13.

The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Imoru Ziblim, issued a bench warrant against Atta Gyewu, a gold smith and an accomplice who is on the run.

Prosecuting, Inspector Emmanuel T. Boison told the tribunal that in August last year the complainant, Mr. Vinobray Kapasi a business executive and a director of Crowntex Limited, dealers in general goods in Holland, decided to transact gold business in Ghana.

He said Osei-Bonsu, a traditional ruler and a licensed agent of the Precious Mineral Marketing Corporation (PMMC) and Osarfo, a miner were introduced to Mr Kapasi by one Madam Joyce Ansah describing Osei-Bonsu as her church father and also a miner with a gold concession.

After the introduction, Mr Kapasi negotiated with Osei-Bonsu who offered to sell gold to him at 37.2 million cedis per kilogram.

The Indian released an amount of 403.5 million cedis to Madam Ansah to pay for 15 kilograms whiles he left for Holland to await delivery, the prosecution said.

When Madam Ansah paid the money to Osei-Bonsu, he failed to supply the gold but rather took her in the company of one Gilbert Kpornu to Gyewu who was alleged to be working on the gold dust.

Inspector Boison said on November 11 last year, Osarfo under the instruction of Osei-Bonsu also took Madam Ansah to Nsawam where she took delivery of the gold bars from Gyewu.

However when the bars were assayed at the PMMC, they were found to contain no gold .

GRi…/