Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - Joe Amon Kotey, a businessman who allegedly po= sed as a national security operative and defrauded several people estimated at one million Ghana cedis on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. The accused charged for defrauding about 20 people by false pretences, pleaded not guilty and was granted GH¢32,000 bail to reappear on March 1. Police Inspector Michael Dubiok, prosecuting told the court that the complainant is a businessman and a friend to the accused. He said sometime in September 2010, the complainant approached the accused with the intention to buy a vehicle and the accused promised to assist him acquire one.

The prosecution said on September 13, the accused delegated one Sedor who is known to the complainant to select a vehicle of the complainant's choice at the Jubilee Warehouse at Tema. Inspector Dubiok said the following day the complainant went to the accused's office and paid GH¢10,000 cash and was promised of delivery w= ithin 21 days but failed.

He said all efforts made by the complainant for the accused to refund his money proved futile and reported the case to the police. In another development, Police sources said Amon Kotey alleged that he was attached to the Confiscated Assets Committee and could assist the other complainants to acquire vehicles. The source said the accused took the complainants to the Tema port and asked them to select a car of their choice, after which he would asked them to pay upfront but failed to deliver the vehicles to them.