Asamankese, Eastern Region Ghana, a farmer is currently standing trial for allegedly scamming a Tokyo, Japan-based businessman.
According to reports, the farmer collaborated with three other individuals to defraud Jones Dodoo of GH 868,800 under the pretext of providing 10 kilograms of gold.
This information was reported in a Chronicle newspaper article dated July 20, 2023.
Under false pretenses, the defendant, Felix Nyeduah (A1), and his accomplices, A2, A3, and A4, sold 10 kilograms of fake gold to Jones Dodoo, a businessman, before fleeing.
In front of the Accra High Court, presided over by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah, the defendant, Nyeduah, entered a not-guilty plea to the charge.
According to the prosecution, Jones Dodoo, who filed the complaint, is a Ghanaian business consultant residing in Tokyo, Japan, as stated by Assistant Superintendent Emmanuel Haligah.
The alleged fraud occurred in July 2022 when the complainant decided to venture into the gold business and met the accused through a person named Kwasi Mensah David, also known as Amuzu.
The accused offered to provide 10 kilograms of gold, aware of Dodoo’s plans, in exchange for the complainant covering the shipping costs to Tokyo and returning the principal amount after the sale, as testified by the prosecution in court.
Unknowingly accepting the offer, the complainant handed accomplice A2, posing as the shipper, a cash payment of US$25,000.
The second conspirator, A3, provided Dodoo with one kilogram of fake gold and demanded US$40,000 in cash as security for the 10 kilograms of real gold that were supposed to be delivered to Tokyo.
The complainant traveled to Tokyo after making the payments, expecting to receive his gold, but was deceived by Nyeduah and A4, who demanded an additional US$7,000 and US$400 to be paid to a representative in Tokyo before handing over the gold.
Dodoo complied and made the required payments. However, he later discovered that the kilogram of gold he received in Ghana was fake.
When attempts to receive the entire shipment were unsuccessful, he reported the issue to the police.
The accused was arrested in Akim Oda on July 14, 2022, for attempting to scam a different victim.
During questioning, Nyeduah confessed to all the offenses listed in his caution statement.
Further investigations revealed that Nyeduah, A2, A3, and A4 were members of an Accra-based fraud group.
While investigations continue to identify and apprehend the remaining conspirators, the accused has been charged and presented before the court.
