Accra (Greater Accra), 13 Jan '99 -

Ama Odey Okine, a 49-year-old trader, yesterday appeared before an Accra circuit tribunal charged with defrauding a businessman of 27.9 million cedis. Ama pleaded not guilty and was granted five million cedis bail with one surety to reappear on January 28. Police chief inspector James K. Achemapong told the tribunal, chaired by Mr Charles K. Nyewolema, that about a year ago, Mr Samuel Quartey, a printer, discussed with a friend his intention to purchase a house for his business. The prosecution said Mr Quartey was later introduced to the accused who agreed to sell a house bequeathed to her by her late father for which she demanded 35 million cedis but later accepted 27.9 million cedis after which she released doecuments on the house to the complainant. The accused later collected back the papers from Mr Quartey for a discussion with her lawyers but failed to return them, and she went into hiding. She at times telephoned Mr Quartey, to tell him that he was doing some business at Yendi and would soon return but she never did so until she was arrested on December 13, last year. In her statement to the police during interrogation, the accused said there was litigation over the house and that she was sorting things out with her lawyers.