The Tarkwa Circuit Court on Friday remanded a 52 year-old businessman, Howard William Amekudzi, into prison custody for defrauding by false pretense.

He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on March 27.     

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainant, Madam Paulina Darko Budu, is a business woman who resides at Kwabadu, a suburb of Tarkwa.    

He said in March 2013, the accused who stays at Adakope  near Takoradi went and collected ten pieces of ‘42’ inch flat screen television set, one deep freezer, two table top fridges, one ‘32’ inch flat screen television set estimated at 22,600 Ghana cedis from the complainant to sell the items to a woman in Takoradi.    

Chief Inspector Amponsah said after selling the items, the accused collected the money involved but he failed to send the money to the complainant as already arranged.   

He said the complainant reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested for questioning.   

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the accused told the police that he was defrauded by his own uncle, one Paul Ahlidza and a staff of Eco Bank at the Tema Community One branch when he went to transfer the complainant’s money into her account.   

He said the accused also claimed that he has reported the incident to the Tema Community One police and it was under investigation.   

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the accused told the Police that he has already made part payment of 7,000 Ghana cedis to the complainant and he was left with a balance of 15,600 to settle.