An Ivorian Information Technology Technician, appeared before a circuit court in Accra on Monday.

Jacques Dakouri allegedly defrauded a businessman under the pretext of securing an airline ticket for him to travel to China.

The accused pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences and was remanded into prison custody to re-appear at court on October 10.

Police Chief Inspector Ben Dufuor said the complainant, Mr Donald Declan, is a businessman, who resides at Haatso while the accused Dakouri is an Ivorian domiciled in Ghana.

He said sometime in August this year, Declan decided to travel to China to purchase goods and discussed the issue with a friend.

Chief Insp Dufuor said the complainant’s friend introduced the accused as a travel agent who could procure the necessary tickets for the complainant to travel.

He said the accused demanded $2,700 as the fare for a return ticket from China and gave out a ticket dated August 8, purported to come from the Emirate Airline to the complainant.

Chief Insp Dufuor said when the complainant cross-checked his date to travel with the airline he realised that the ticket was fake, and efforts for the accused to refund the money proved futile.

He said on September 8, the accused was spotted around Tudu, Accra, with two other fake tickets in the names of Bernice and Susan who had also given monies to him to purchase tickets for them to travel to the United Kingdom.

Chief Insp Dufuor said while the two women were demanding their monies from the accused, the complainant saw the accused and subsequently reported the matter to the Police and accused was arrested.