Koforidua, Dec 15, GNA - Isaac Opare, an elder of Pentecost Grace Assembly, Koforidua, was on Wednesday remanded into police custody for allegedly defrauding two policewomen by a Koforidua Circuit Court. Elder Opare who pleaded not guilty to a charge of defrauding by fals= e pretence is to reappear on December 22.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Eric Twum-Frimpong told the court presi= ded over by Mrs Wilhemina Hammond that, the complainants in the case were policewomen; Esther Pomaa and Ruth Oduraa.

He said Esther previously attended the same church with the accused. The prosecutor said Opare gave a testimony through which Esther got to know that he was a building contractor. On June 26, 2007 Esther had a discussion with Opare concerning a par= cel of land she wanted to develop by putting up a building. The prosecutor said Opare agreed to build the house for Esther and t= ook an amount of GH¢4000 as part payment to start the building on a plot of= land at Pokuase. Esther later introduced Opare to Ruth as her elder who was a buildin= g contractor.

Prosecutor said Ruth also told Opare that she wanted him to build a storey building for her on her plot also at Pokuase. Opare told Ruth that he would take a total amount of GH¢10,000 as the charge for the ground floor of the storey building.

On August 1, 2007 Ruth paid an amount of GH¢8000 to Opare to start= the building and to pay the remaining GH¢2000 after the completion of the building. The prosecutor said Opare started the construction of the buildings but had since failed to visit the site again.

The complainants made several efforts to get Opare to go and complet= e the job but failed. A complainant was lodged and Opare was arrested and after investigat= ion charge for court.