Two people have appeared in an Accra Circuit Court, accused of scamming an American of $1,205,000 by fraudulently offering the victim seven 20-footer containers of money.
Dzam Abotsi, a vehicle salesman, and Nana Kwame Yanka, a businessman, are charged with fraud conspiracy and defrauding under false pretenses.
Abotsi reportedly charged the complainant $100,500 in addition to an extra $200,000 in rent and security for the containers.
The actual amount stolen from the American by other accomplices is unknown.
Abotsi and Yanka, however, have both pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
The accused have been granted bail in the amount of GHC1 million cedis, with three sureties, one of whom must be justified, by the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah.
An accomplice, Alhaji Tanko, a businessman facing the same allegations, is presently on the run.
The hearing has been rescheduled for November 23, 2023.
Superintendent of Police Augustus Yirenkyi headed the prosecution, which revealed that the complainant, Gary Bernsten, is an American Asset Recovery Officer.
According to Supt. Yirenkyi, Abotsi and Yanka live in Sowutuom and Chantan, respectively.
The prosecution informed the court that Bernsten and his Brazilian business associates were alerted of a stockpile of US dollars hidden in around 20 containers in Ghana.
According to the prosecution, Bernsten and his companions performed investigations before traveling to Ghana to reclaim the money stockpile.
Bernsten arrived in Ghana and met Abotsi, the first accused individual, according to the prosecution.
According to the prosecutor, Bernsten was escorted to a warehouse in Sowutuom and inspected US dollars hidden in around seven containers.
A forensic investigation of the dollars in the containers verified their validity, according to the prosecution.
In addition, the prosecutor said that Abotsi charged the plaintiff $100,500 in addition to the $200,000 that was paid for container security and rent.
It was clarified that wire transfers and cryptocurrencies were used to pay Abotsi the money.
The prosecution stated that, at Abotsi’s advice, Bernsten hired Skynet Logistics to move the seven containers containing the funds to Tema, Community 12.
The prosecutor claimed that when Bernsten went to the warehouse a few days later to take the containers containing the funds to Tema Harbor, he discovered it was empty.
After a police report, Abotsi and Yanka were taken into custody.
Currently, the prosecution is working to bring Alhaji Tanko and other people who are still at large under arrest.
