Three granted bail over alleged GHS155,000 car fraud

An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to three persons accused of defrauding a driver under the pretext of purchasing his vehicle.

Justice Osei Abrokwah, alias Nana Yaw, a spare parts dealer; Isaac Quansah, a businessman; and Matthew Oduro, a driver, were granted bail in the sums of GHS150,000 each with two sureties, and GHS50,000 with two sureties respectively.

One surety for each accused is to be justified.

The court, presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah, also directed Abrokwah and Quansah to report to the police every Wednesday.

The trio pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence.

Abrokwah additionally denied issuing a dud cheque.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Issah Achiburi told the court that the complainant, Mr Ebenezer Beyin, a driver residing at Sowutuom, displayed his unregistered VW Tiguan for sale in March 2025.

Abrokwah contacted him and, following negotiations, agreed to purchase the vehicle for GHS155,000.

On March 7, 2025, Abrokwah and Quansah met Beyin at CBG Bank, Mallam Junction branch, where a GCB Bank cheque for GHS155,000 was deposited into his account.

Although Beyin received an alert, the amount was never credited.

When he confronted Abrokwah and Quansah, they took him to a residence at Spintex and assured him the vehicle would be returned if there were issues with the cheque.

Relying on this assurance, Beyin handed over the vehicle without its documents.

The bank later confirmed the cheque had been dishonoured.

Efforts to retrieve the vehicle failed, as the accused demanded additional money and became untraceable.

Abrokwah was arrested on June 23, 2025, and admitted in his caution statement that he acted on instructions from one Nana Ackaah, currently serving a prison sentence.

Quansah was also arrested on June 30, 2025, and admitted his role, promising to assist in recovering the vehicle.

Oduro was arrested on August 20, 2025, and confessed that Abrokwah gave him the vehicle, which he later handed over to one Emma at Breman Asikuma on Ackaah's instructions.

Police investigations are ongoing to arrest Ackaah and Emma and recover the vehicle.

The case was adjourned to September 2, 2025.
GNA