Kumasi, Oct 22, GNA - Benedicta Bamfo, the 38-year-old self-styled hairdresser accused of swindling traders in Kumasi and Accra, was on Tuesday arraigned at a Kumasi Circuit Court for defrauding Iron Birds Company to the tune of 42 million cedis.

She pleaded not guilty and was granted 50 million cedis bail with two sureties to justify and would re-appear on October 27.

Granting her bail, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Mensah, the presiding judge, said he took into consideration the health of the accused.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Duuti Tuaruka told the court that on September 22, Benedicta approached one Thomas Opoku, Manager of the Company near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and told him that she needed 200 bags of cement and 10 tons of iron rods worth 42 million cedis.

The prosecution said Opoku gave the items to the accused and she issued an Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) cheque covering the amount, which was dishonoured by the Adum branch of the Bank the next day.

Opoku lodged a complaint with the Police Striking Force who arrested the accused at her hideout at Ayeduase on October 18 and charged her with the offence.