Businessman charged with fraud

A businessman accused of defrauding the Chief Executive Officer of Nasona Oil Limited of GHȼ480,000.00 under the pretext of handing over his filling station for renovation and management but failed has appeared in Court.

Alhaji Mohammed Ali is said to have collected the amount from the complainant but gave the filling station to another company.

Charged with two counts of defrauding by false pretences, Ali has pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh has admitted Ali to bail in the sum of GHȼ480,000.00 with two sureties one to be justified.

Ali is expected to reappear on December 7.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) A.A Yirenkyi said Alhaji Abuba Shaibu, the complainant is the Chief Executive Officer of Nasona Oil Company Limited and resides at East Legon.

ASP Yirenkyi said Ali reside in Takoradi.

The prosecutor said during the 2012, Alhaji Shaibu supplied fuel to Ali who had three filling stations located at Apowa, Half Assin and Mpohor all in the Western Region.

He said during 2013 Ali approached the complainant and told him to renovate his filling station at Apowa which was not functioning and managed same and pay him commission on monthly basis.

Prosecution said Ali’s further condition was that he owed an amount of GHȼ291,023 to Kings Energy Limited and if the complainant should pay the amount he owed.

ASP Yirenkyi said Alhaji Shaibu accepted the responsibility to pay Ali’s debt and wrote a letter to Kings Energy to assured them of payment within 12 months.

Alhaji Shaibu, the prosecutor said started renovating the filling station and that cost him GHȼ280,000.00.

In the 2015, the accused person went to the complainant complaining that Kings Energy Limited was demanding money hence Alhaji Shaibu offered Ali monies totalling GHȼ200,000.00 to defray his debt.

In October last year, Prosecution said the complainant detected that Ali had given out his filling station to another company.

A report was made to the Police and accused was arrested.        

During interrogation Ali admitted the offence but told the Police that he only collected GHȼ100,000.00.

Source: GNA