Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - Awudu Lartey, an Estate Developer, who defrauded a Barrister-at-Law to the tune of 380 million cedis under the pretext of selling 10 plots of land to him was on Monday put before an Accra Circuit Court.

Lartey pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences, and was admitted to bail in the sum of 500 million cedis with a surety to be justified.

Mr Justice Kwadwo Owusu, a High Court Judge, with an additional responsibility on the case as a Circuit Court Judge, adjourned the matter to January 29.

The facts of the case as narrated to the Court by the Prosecution were that sometime in January 2004, Mr William Kwasi Aboah, the Lawyer, parted with the said amount to Lartey as the cost of 10 plots of land the latter was selling.

The Prosecution said when Mr Aboah sent people onto the land to develop it, another person interrupted, saying that he was the owner of that parcel of land.

According to the Prosecution, when Mr Aboah approached Lartey for a refund of his money, the latter went into hiding for six months. The Prosecution stated that Mr Aboah lodged a complaint with the Police, who later arrested Lartey and after several request to him to refund the money had failed he was arraigned.