Prosecutor absent
for Bebli's committal proceedings
Alleged fraudster
remanded for fraud
Prosecutor absent
for Bebli's committal proceedings
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 October
2000
The committal proceedings of
Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Jack Bebli at an Accra Community Tribunal on
Monday was adjourned to December 13 because the prosecutor failed to turn up.
The long adjournment was at the
instance of Mr. Chris Ackummey, counsel for Bebli, who is reported ill. Bebli
is alleged to have masterminded the 2.4 billion-cedi highway gold robbery of
February 16, 1999.
When the case was called, Bebli
looked feeble and could only stand with the help of a crutch in his right hand
and had to sit down.
His counsel told the tribunal that
if the prosecution failed to appear on December 13, he would be compelled to
bring an application for the case to be struck out.
Mr. Kwadwo Owusu, Chairman of the
tribunal, ordered that the date be communicated to the prosecution.
On two occasions in April and
July, this year, the tribunal could not start the committal proceedings because
Bebli was in hospital.
Six other persons, Philip Asamoah,
alias Agingo, Isaac Frimpong, alias Nii Baby Tei, Patrick Boakye Mprah,
Corporal James Doh, Augustus Oko Odartey and Kofi Boakye, alias Kofi Bebli, are
also involved.
The six, who allegedly held a series
of meetings at the residence of RSM Bebli, were said to have seized eight boxes
of unrefined gold from a bullion van.
The gold, property of Amansie
Resource based in the Ashanti Region, was being conveyed to Accra.
Security agencies at the Elubo border
arrested Frimpong as he attempted to flee to Abidjan with his share of the
booty.
Upon interrogation, Frimpong
admitted the offence and gave the names of the other persons as his
accomplices.
At the moment, the six, who are
standing trial at an Accra High Court, have been remanded in prison custody.
GRi…/
Alleged fraudster
remanded for fraud
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 October
2000
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on
Monday remanded in prison custody Andrew Oyeka, a Nigerian, charged with defrauding
by false pretences.
Oyeka, unemployed, pleaded not
guilty to the charge, and is to appear before the tribunal on October 26. The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Mohammed Nabon
heard that Oyeka is a member of the Nigerian fraud syndicate known as 419, which
is operating in Ghana.
According to the prosecution, one
Buniwi Bayo, who lives in Nigeria, got an informant's personal telephone and
fax number from the Internet.
He said Bayo faxed him a business
proposal, asking the informant for his bank account number in order to transfer
17 million dollars into it.
The prosecutor said the informant
became suspicious but feigned interest in the business and faxed back an
invitation to Bayo to visit the country. Bayo did not, however, come but sent
his son, Andrew Oyeka, instead.
The informant alerted the police.
When Oyeka arrived in Ghana on
October 5, a policeman pretending to be the informant met him at a hotel. During
their discussions, the policeman identified himself to Oyeka and arrested him.
GRi…/