Two persons charged with stealing
Two persons charged with stealing
Accra (Greater Accra), 6th October 99
Two persons on Tuesday appeared before a circuit tribunal in Accra charged with duping Mr. John Varagnat, an American who wanted to go into gold business with them.
Moses Kofi Tei, 50, a trader and Nana Afrifa Yeboah, 52, a farmer who both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and stealing were each granted 10 million cedis bail and a surety and will reappear on October 11.
One Kwasi Kyei Darkwa and other accomplices are on the run.
The tribunal chaired by Mr. Charles Nyewolema ordered that, an Urvan bus bought by the complainant for the business, which the accused reportedly said was impounded by the Police, should be released to Mr. Varagnat.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Winfred Ansah-Akrofi said the accused persons invited Mr. Varagnat, a private security investigator in Los Angeles, to Ghana to do business in gold.
On arrival in Ghana, Mr. Varagnat was met by Darkwa and some of the other accused now at large and introduced him to Tei and Yeboah as chiefs, who had gold to sell.
Tei and Yeboah promised to sell 100 kilograms of gold to Mr. Varagnat at 500 dollars per one kilogram.
The prosecutor said Darkwa persuaded Mr. Varagnat to give out 12.5 million cedis to purchase an Urvan bus, which he registered in his name, ostensibly to cart the product from Ghana to the Republic of Benin.
He said on September 27, Tei approached Mr. Varagnat and informed him that the bus had been impounded and the gold seized by the Police and needed 35,000 dollars to get them released and to pay workers.
ASP Ansah-Akrofi said Mr. Varagnat was not convinced about the development and alerted the Police, who arrested Tei and Yeboah.
It was also alleged that the suspects collected one computer and unspecified sums of money from the complainant in the course of the transactions.
GRi