Accra (Greater Accra), 18th May ?99 ?

Frank Akogyiram, a businessman, charged with six counts of stealing, fraud, issue of false cheque, and poccesing false documents, was on Monday remanded in custody by a circuit tribunal in Accra .

Akogyiram, 29, alias Fred Richardson, pleaded not guilty to all the charges but the Tribunal chaired by Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson-Yebuah, remanded him until June two to enable the Police to complete their investigations.

Police Inspector Alex Yartey Tawah, prosecuting, said, in July 1998, Mrs. Joycelyn Bognadon Bierlert, a Filipino resident in Accra, asked the accused to help to her find accommodation.

Akogyiram, the prosecution said, told the complainant that he owns a house at North Kaneshie that he could rent to her.

The accused person then hired a truck and conveyed Mrs. Bierlert's personal effects, including electrical appliances, dresses, jewellery and cash of 400 dollars and 800,000 cedis for safe keeping. However, he sold them and spent the money.

The complainant reported the matter and the accused was arrested at a hotel at Tesano. While investigations were going on, another complainant identified the accused person as the one who collected a computer valued at 4.7 million cedis from Yamtech Systems at Osu and issued a cheque to cover the amount.

When the cheque was presented, it was found to be a stolen one. It was also found out that the accused person had no account at the SSB Bank main branch where the cheque was to be drawn.