A Canadian based auto engineer, who developed the habit of defrauding people of various sums of money, under the pretext of securing them a vehicle or a Canadian visa, has been arrested by the police.
Richie Joe, who had initially defrauded a gold dealer in Akim Akwatia was identified by his other victims, who claimed he defrauded them of various sums of money.
Richie Joe, appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Ms. Jennifer Myers, pleaded not guilty to three counts of defrauding by false pretense, contrary to section 131 of Act 29/60.
He was granted bail in the sum of GH�7, 000 with one surety to be justified. The court, as part of his bail condition further ordered him to surrender his passport to the police.
The facts of the case are that about four months ago, the complainant was introduced by one Peter, currently at large, to Richie Joe as an agent who helps people secure Canadian visas for a fee of GH�2000.
According to the Prosecutor, DSP Odonkor, the complainant, who was eager to travel abroad gave Richie Joe a cash sum of GH�2000 and was promised to take the visa in three days.
He said after a week, the complainant called Richie Joe and was told that the visa was not yet ready.
The suspect, after this, went into hiding and subsequent calls made to him were not answered.
DSP Donkor said a complaint was lodged with the Police and on January 30, 2014, the police had a tipoff that Richie Joe was lodging in a hotel at Kasoa, where he was arrested and sent to the station.
�At the police station, complainant Akua identified the accused as the one who collected GH�2000 under the pretence of using it to clear his car at the harbour, and afterwards will sell one to her.
Accused was again identified by one Elijah as the one who collected a sum of GH�650 from him, also under the pretence of using it to clear his laptop at the airport.
<<Print>>