Judge Frees Accused Over GH¢200,000 Gold Fraud

The Abeka District Court in Accra has discharged a businessman accused of a GH¢ 200,000 gold fraud.

The court presided over by Mrs. Victoria Akua Ghansah held that the facts of the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Hanson Armah does not support the charges.

According to the trial magistrate, the accused Benard Asante, aka Joe has not defrauded the complainant, Toral Viradia in any matter.

Joe had been dragged before the court for allegedly obtaining the money from Toral under the pretext of supplying her with some quantities of gold.

At his first appearance in court C/Insp. Armah had requested the court to remand the accused because the prosecution wanted to amend the charge sheet.

Days later, the prosecution however returned to court with the same charge sheet rather demanding the discharge of Joe, explaining that the amount involved in the case would attract a higher punishment if sent to a higher court.

The facts of the case are that Joe is a gold businessman who hails from Akwatia but resides at Tantra Hills in Accra.

On December 15 2017, Joe went to Toral and told her that he has about 15 pounds of gold to supply her if he is given GH¢ 200,000.

Toral gave him the said amount hoping to receive the gold the next day. On December 19, Joe brought 144 pounds of gold equivalent to the money given him but later in the day, Toral received a phone call from her house that a group of people were in her house seeking to collect the money for the gold.

It came to light that Joe failed to settle the reals owners of the gold numbering about 40 who reported the accused at the police headquarters where the issue was resolved that Joe should return the gold or pay for it.

On December 27, Toral reported the case to the Tesano Police leading to the arrest of Joe.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher