The Accra Circuit Court Nine has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a mechanical engineer who allegedly took GH₵99,810.00 from a farmer under the pretext of securing her two auctioneer tractors.

Justice Kwame Amenya was warned by the police to attend court, but he failed to turn up when the case was presented in court.

The Court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, adjourned the matter to September 2, 2024.

The prosecution, giving the facts, said Madam Mabel Lariba Bukari, the complainant, was a farmer residing at Manyira Pokuase, whereas Amenya, the accused person, resided at Oyarifa.

Somewhere in 2023, Madam Bukari was introduced to Amenya by a friend who was a staff member at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA); thus, the accused person could assist the complainant in purchasing auctioned tractors from the said Ministry.

Madam Bukari, whom the Court heard, showed interest, and she was linked up with Amenya.

The prosecution said the accused person, after a conversation with the complainant, sent pictures of some tractors available, of which the complainant chose two at a cost of GH₵52,600.00 and GH₵62,000.00, respectively.

The Court was told that on September 14, 2023, Madam Bukari, the complainant, gave out GH₵23,000.00 to her son, one Emmanuel Apatuween Anankra, a witness in the case, who deposited the said amount into MOFA/MOF ESCROW's account at Ghana Commercial Bank Ministries' branch.

Witness made another deposit of GH¢35,000.00 into a different bank account with Zenith for the cost of a brand new II Raw Multi Crop Planter and Multi Crop Thresher B 340 T.

The police said the complainant later informed Amenya to refund the money sent since she did not want that equipment anymore.

Amenya agreed but later informed the complainant that there were tractors available to be auctioned, and Madam Bukari showed interest.

The Court was informed that Amenya was able to refund GH¢23,000.00, which was paid into the MOFA/MOF ESCROW's account at Ghana Commercial Bank.

"Again, Amenya told Madam Bukari that the Ministry needed foodstuffs and the complainant should replace the remaining balance of GH¢56,000.00 with foodstuffs, and she obliged, amounting to GH¢32,300.00," the police said.

The complainant went ahead and sent another shipment of foodstuffs, also amounting to GH¢23,510.00, and transferred the rest of the money (GH¢1,500.00) in cash to Amenya for the said tractors, but he failed to fulfil his part of the bargain.

The complainant then made a formal complaint with the police, which the court heard.