Self-stlyed businessman arrested for fraud

He has, however, been granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 10,000 with sureties to appear later.

The Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Richard Akwasi Yeboah, told the court, presided over by Mr. AlfredMensah, that the complainants, Harrison Dotse, Wisdom Asigbey and Mawuko Gadagbe, were all fish farmers residing at Achavanga, a village near Akuse. The accused is from Somanya.

ASP Yeboah said on January 12, 2015, a witness in the case introduced Odartey to the complainants as a businessman from Somanya who needed some money to boost his business.

He said the complainants told Odartey that they were fishermen and, therefore, had no money. Odartey, however, convinced them that the business would yield more returns within two weeks.

ASP Yeboah said Odartey even advised the complainants to go and borrow money for the business because the interest that would accrue would change their lives instantly.

The prosecution said the complainants became convinced and between January 16 and 19, they met Odartey at Akuse So Fresh Filling Station and VRA junction and gave him GH¢1,500 and GH¢2,500 respectively, after which he promised to pay them huge interests within two weeks.

ASP Yeboah said after collecting the money, Odartey went into hiding.

Two weeks later, the complainants met him at Akuse and demanded their money but he told them that he was at the verge of completing the transaction and would give them their monies with the agreed interests.

Once again, Odartey convinced them to part with additional money to complete everything with the assurance that this time round, the interest would be doubled.

Two of the complainants on two occasions gave the accused GH¢2,000 at Somanya making a total of GH¢8,000 and he again promised to return the money and the interest in two weeks.

ASP Yeboah said at the end of the two weeks, Odartey refused to bring the money and again went into hiding.

The complainants, however, did their own investigations and realised that Odartey was jobless and not a businessman as he claimed.

The complainants then became suspicious and reported the matter to the Akuse Police. On March 27, 2015, the complainants and an official of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, Tema Branch, spotted Odartey driving a brand new Toyota Corolla at Somanya Roundabout.

He was arrested and sent to the Somanya Police Station and was later transferred to the Akuse Police Station.

During police interrogations, Odartey denied the allegation in his caution statement.

He told the police that he got his money through juju from Benin.

Odartey said when the witness introduced the complainants to him, they were also interested so he directed them to where they could also get such money after some rituals had been performed.

He explained that he had not finished performing the rituals for them before his arrest.

Odartey also alleged that the complainants caused damage to his Toyota Corolla during his arrest.

Odartey was, however, charged with the offence.

Source: Daily Graphic

Self-stlyed businessman arrested for fraud

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