A businessman who allegedly collected 188 million cedis from a colleague under the pretext of giving him the dollar equivalent but absconded has been arraigned at a circuit court in Accra.

Alhaji Iddi Amadu Lawi pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences.

The court admitted him to a 500 million cedi bail to re-appear on August 27.

The prosecution said Alhaji Mohamed Sani Tahir wanted to travel to Dubai last month to import some goods and needed to change his cedis into dollars.

Lawi therefore went to Alhaji Tahir’s office at Nii Boye Town in Accra, and convinced him to change the money into dollars.

Alhaji Tahir gave Lawi 188 million cedis and he promised to bring the 20,000 dollar equivalent to the complainant the following day. However, he did not honour the promise and went into hiding.

On July 6, Alhaji Tahir reported the matter to the police who arrested him at his hideout.

During police interrogation, the accused admitted having collected the money and had since refunded 6,000 dollars.

Source: GNA