Agya Koo pleads not guilty to charges
Kofi Adu, aka Agya Koo, an ace actor and comedian, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges of attempt to commit crime to wit smuggling, migrant smuggling and fraud when he made his second appearance before an Accra Circuit Court.
Agya Koo, who was sweating in the dock, was admitted to fresh bail term of GH¢20,000.00 to reappear before court on January 31.
He has refunded GH¢2,000.00 to Stephen Kwarteng, the man who lodged the complainant against him.
Earlier, his lawyer, Mr Joseph Turkson, said his client admit that there was a transaction between him and the complainant through phone calls and other contacts.
Adu’s lawyer contended that what took place between his client and Kwarteng was entirely a contract and Agya Koo had agreed to refund the money and seek resolution of the matter.
Mr Turkson said he and his client would inform the court as soon as the matter is resolved so that it could be terminated. The lawyer prayed for bail since Agya Koo has had his charges read out to him,
Agya Koo on Monday appeared before the court but prosecution contended that the charges were defective and preferred to amend them and appear on Tuesday.
The court admitted Agya Koo to bail after his lawyer, Mr Nkrabeah Effah-Darteh had put in a bail application.
Ms Naomi Nelson Coffie another defence counsel asked the court to admit Agya Koo to bail since the charges levelled against the comedian were not those charges that could not attract bail.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mary Agbozo noted that refunding the money was a good stance taken by the accused person.
She said the complainant, is a trader residing in Accra, who wanted to visit his sister in America whiles Agya Koo resides in Kumasi.
DSP Agbozo said in March 2011, Kwarteng discussed the matter with a friend who led him to Agya Koo who was lodging at Alhaji Tabora, a suburb in Accra and introduced Agya Koo as someone who could help him to travel.
The prosecution said Agya Koo agreed to assist Kwarteng and charged him 10,000 dollars covering visa, work permit and a returned ticket.
DSP Agbozo said Agya Koo asked the complainant to make advance payment of 850 dollars for processing fee and also 1,000 dollars as part payment for fees charged.
The court heard that Agya Koo received the various sums of money from the complainant at Kumasi.
DSP Agbozo said after collecting the money; Agya Koo sent the complaints and 10 others to the United States Embassy in Accra for the visa process to begin.
Prosecution said while the complainant and 10 others were waiting, Agya Koo called asked them to meet him at Busy Internet, near Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
At Busy Internet, Agya Koo told them that he was unable to procure the visa and asked them to be patient.
DSP Agbozo said Agya Koo since 2011 has been giving excuses for his inability to procure the visas, so Kwarteng suggest to him to procure Australian Visa and Agya Koo collected additional GHc 1,150.00 but he failed to honour his promise.
Kwarteng demanded his money, but Agya Koo offered excuses, compiling Kwarteng to lodge a complainant with the Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on January 8, this year, where he was invited several times on his phone but failed to turn up.
The Police obtained an arrest warrant from court on January 18, this year, and Agya Koo reported at CID Headquarters where he was detained and arraigned.
Source: GNA