The Accra Circuit Court presided over by Judge Samuel Bright Acquah remanded three individuals into police custody following their involvement in an alleged gold scam totaling 1.5 million dollars. According to reporting by Graphic Online the accused persons include a businessman and two others who were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretenses.
Police prosecutors informed the court that the suspects convinced a foreign investor they could supply high purity gold bars for export. A GhanaWeb report indicates that the complainant paid the significant sum into a designated account before realizing the transaction was fraudulent. The prosecution stated that the suspects failed to deliver the promised minerals and instead provided excuses regarding regulatory delays.
The defense counsel requested bail for the accused suggesting that they were reliable citizens with fixed places of abode. However the prosecution opposed the application and argued that the suspects might interfere with ongoing investigations. As reported by the Ghana News Agency the court denied the bail application to ensure the accused appear for subsequent hearings and to allow the police to finalize searches for additional accomplices.
The identities of the suspects were confirmed by court records as Frederick Frimpong and two associates who allegedly operated within the Greater Accra Region. The Ghana Police Service has cautioned members of the public and international investors to verify gold transactions through the Precious Minerals Marketing Company to avoid falling victim to similar schemes. The case is scheduled to return to court for further proceedings later this month.