Sekondi, Jan 11, GNA - Albert Ackah-Watson, a 59-year-old businessman at Tikobo Number Two, was on Monday arraigned before a Sekondi District Magistrate's Court for defrauding by false pretences. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to re-appear on February 10.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joe Hedidor said in October last year the accused approached Agnes Andoh-Attom and Mercy Cobbinah, nurses at Kwesimintsim, and showed them a letter purported to have been written by Dr Kofi Ackah-Quarm resident in Italy.

In the letter, Dr Ackah-Quarm asked the accused to recruit six nurses and six boys to work in his clinic in Italy.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said the two nurses agreed to work in Italy and Agnes gave the accused seven million cedis as a fee for an Italian visa and two passport photographs.

Later Mercy paid eight million cedis. Chief Inspector Hedidor said Agnes told her husband, a Police Detective at Takoradi Central Police Station, of her intention to go to Italy. He said the husband became interested and after a meeting with the accused paid him 10 million cedis for a visa to the US.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said the accused bolted but on December 27 last year the Police Detective traced him to his house at Tikobo Number Two. When the accused saw the Police Detective he pulled a kitchen knife and threatened to stab him to death.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said with the help of some Police personnel at the Mpataba Police Station the accused was arrested.