The Chief of Gomoa Abasa in the Central Region, Nana Kweku Akyempim III, was on Thursday arraigned before court for conspiring with three others to defraud one Vinay Sukhija, a business man, an amount of US$110,000.
The chief, together with his accomplices, Caleb Samenu Tamfu, Nana Frimpong Obese, and Samuel Lincoln Agyeman, who is currently at large, allegedly promised to sell 50 kilograms of gold bars to Sukhija but failed to deliver on their promise.
Nana Kweku Akyempim III has however pleaded not guilty to both charges of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretence and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 450,000.00 with one surety to be justified.
The case has since been adjourned to May 24.
The facts of the case as presented by Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka were that, the complainant, Sukhija is an Indian Businessman, while the accused is also a businessman and a traditional ruler at Gomoa Abasa in the Central Region.
He said in December 2015, the complainant was introduced to Caleb by one Dr Kapil Mathur currently in London through social media.
Caleb convinced the complainant to come to Ghana and do gold business, so upon arrival he met him at Fiesta Royal Hotel, and personally introduced himself as an International gold dealer.
The prosecution said the complainant was convinced and so decided to buy 50 kilograms of gold bars from him, worth GH¢ 1.6 million.
Caleb then gave his bank details to the complainant at GT Bank, Ridge Branch, bearing the name Brair Cliff.
Chief Superintendent Tuaruka said between December 17 and 22, 2015, based on the presentation made by Caleb, the complainant parted with various sums of money, totalling US$ 110,000.00 as part payment through the said account for the purchase of the 50 kilograms of gold bars.
He told the court that in the course of interrogation it came to light that it was a collaborative effort between Caleb, Nana Frimpong, Nana Kweku Akyempim III and Samuel to collect the money from the complainant.
He said on May 3, 2016, Caleb was arrested from his hideout at Hill View Hotel and handed over to the Ministries Police where the official complaint was made.
Nana Frimpong was subsequently arrested on July 7, 2016.
Nana Kweku Akyempim III, who failed to turn up upon several invitations by the Ministries Police Station, was finally arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on May 2, 2017, while going on a business trip to Dubai.
The prosecution said during investigation the three mentioned Samuel as their accomplice.
He was called on phone to report at the Ministries Police station but he refused.