Bruce Amoah Korankye, aka Tony Walters, a Ghanaian driver based in Canada who allegedly collected $37,850 from two people under the pretext of sending them vehicles on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

However, the accused has refunded $5,000 of the amount.

The accused pleaded not guilty to two counts of defraud and defrauding by false pretences and was granted GH¢50,000 bail with three sureties, two to be justified.

In addition, he was ordered by the court to deposit his passport with the court's registrar.

Police Chief Inspector Charles Chester, prosecuting said the complainant Isaac Aryeetey was a farmer at Taifa while the accused, was a driver based in Canada.

He said sometime in 2006, the complainant met the accused in Canada and they became friends.

The prosecutor said the accused however, convinced the complainant that he brought some vehicles into Ghana for sale.

Chief Inspector Chester said the accused visited Ghana in 2010 and the complainant led the accused to an elder in his church, Daniel Owusu another complainant in the case.

He said the accused succeeded in collecting $10,000 from Elder Owusu as payment of GL Benz 4*4 car which would be imported by the accused for him.

Chief Inspector Chester said the accused after collecting the money returned to Canada and asked Elder Owusu to give the remaining amount $9,650 to Aryeetey to be transferred to him.

The prosecutor said the accused later informed a witness in the case, Nana Abban that he could import vehicles from Canada for him and the witness showed interest.

He said the accused however, directed Nana Abban to send $13,200 through Aryeetey in order for him to import Toyota Corolla and Rav 4 for him.

Chief Inspector Chester said in view of the confidence Aryeetey had in the accused he(Abban) also gave $5,000 to the accused to buy him a Honda CR Car.

He said the accused after collecting $37,790 from Aryeetey never imported the vehicles and went into hiding anytime he travelled to Ghana, however, on March 3, this year, the accused was arrested from his hideout at Madina to the Police station.

The prosecution said during investigations, the accused admitted collected the money from Aryeetey and elder Owusu, purchased the vehicles but they were seized in Canada.**