Court slaps man, 25, with GH¢300,000 bail

A 25-year-old man and sachet water supplier, Michael Azu, has been slapped with a bail sum of GH¢300,000.00 for allegedly defrauding a close friend off the sum of GH¢250,000.00.

Azu allegedly obtained the money with a promise that he could give his friend, Kwadwo Tetteh, a Kia Rino truck at a time he knew the statement was false.

Azu was, therefore, charged with the offence, defrauding by false pretences, but pleaded not guilty when brought before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah.

The brief facts of the case, as presented by the prosecuting officer, Superintendent Augustine Yirenkyi, are that the complainant is a trader and lives at Old Fadama in Accra, while the accused person is also a trader and resident of Odumase Krobo.

He said both parties knew themselves as they supply sachets water in large quantities to their respective customers.

Nevertheless, the prosecutor said, during the month of September 2020, Azu approached the complainant at his work place at Konkomba Market and collected cash of GH¢250,000.00, under the pretence that his brothers living abroad had shipped a Kia Rino trucks to him to be cleared at the Tema Harbor, but could not afford the duty.

The prosecutor further added that the accused allegedly lured the complainant to believe that if given the amount to clear the vehicles, he would give him one to use to supply his sachet water.

He said the complainant also believed him and made payment to that effect.

Unfortunately, the accused, after taking the money, went into hidden, so the complainant reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested.

After investigations, he was charged with the offence before the honourable court.