A businessman, Abdullai Zakaria, on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Magistrate Court at Osu charged with defrauding by false pretences.

Prosecuting Abdullai Zakaria at the court presided by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) P.A. Morkeh, said sometime in 2009, the authorities of the Islamic University College, Ghana, intended to expand its campus.

He told the court that through a friend, the complainant, Mr Christian Clerk, who is the University’s building contractor, got to know that the accused owned buildings for sale in the Agbogba area. Mr Morkeh said Mr Clerk contacted the accused who confirmed owning some buildings meant for sale.

According to the prosecution, Abdullai Zakaria demanded an amount of 135,000 US dollars from the complainant to change ownership of the property into that of the Islamic University.

He said after collecting the amount, the accused bolted to the United States.

Mr Morkeh told the court that the Police applied to the court for a warrant of arrest.