An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Monday imposed a fine of 500,000 cedis on John Napoleon Gbolonyo, a mechanical engineer, for defrauding a businessman of 8,700 US dollars and 200 pounds sterling under the pretext of supplying him with waterproof cement from Cote d'voire.

In default, he will go to jail for 12 months with hard labour. Gbolonyo pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences.

The tribunal chaired by Mr Imoru Ziblim ordered the accused to refund 8,200 dollars and 200 pounds sterling to the complainant, Mr. Cyril Akrasi since he had already refunded 500 dollars.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Sarpong, prosecuting, said in May 1998, Mr Akrasi who needed waterproof cement to construct a water reservoir was told by Gbolonyo that the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had developed some waterproof cement suitable for reservoirs.

He said the accused told Mr Akrasi that he had trucks loaded with cement in Cote d'Ivoire and he needed money to bring them into the country.

Mr Akrasi paid 8,700 dollars and 200 pounds sterling to Gbolonyo who had introduced himself as a worker of a company called Sotin Ghana Limited.

After receiving the money, the accused failed to supply the goods and all efforts to retrieve the money proved futile.

During investigation it was revealed that the accused had no cement in Cote d'Ivoire and he was also not working with Sotin Ghana Limited.