Court orders arrest of man over car fraud

An Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a man over an alleged GHS75,000.00 car fraud.

This was after Prince Abdulai had failed to appear before Circuit Court 7 when a criminal summons was served on him.

Abdulai had taken GHS60,000.00 and a refrigerator worth GHS15,000.00 from Mr Ben Acheampong under the pretext of selling him a vehicle, prosecutors said.

Inspector Daniel Ofori-Appiah called the case in the Court presided over by Mrs Ellen Ofei Ayeh who therefore adjourned it to February 22, 2023.

Mr Acheampong, the complainant is a businessman living at Osu whilst Abdulai, the accused person lived at West Legon, all suburbs of Accra. 

The prosecution said both the complainant and the accused person were friends.

In 2021, the accused person claimed ownership of a black Range Rover vehicle with a faulty engine parked at a fitting shop at Abelemkpe and and offered it for sale. 

The complainant after inspection of the vehicle, expressed interest in buying it and the accused person sold it to him at GHS78,000.00. 

The complainant made part payment of GHS60,000.00 and additionally gave the accused person a fridge valued GHS15,000.00.

The court also heard the complainant one day visited the shop and learned that the accused person was not the owner of the said vehicle. 

The complainant then lost interest in the transaction and requested for a refund of his money but to no avail and on August 16, 2021, a report was made to the Police and the accused person was arrested. 

Investigations established that the accused person was indeed not the owner of the vehicle, thus, the accused refunded GHS46,000.00 and went into hiding. 

In October 2022, a forfeiture of recognisance was prepared and served on the surety to produce the accused person, but he could not produce the accused person.

After the investigation, Abdulai was served with Criminal Summons to appear before Court.