Sekondi Oct.15-GNA-Sekondi District Magistrate Court "A" on Friday remanded Promise Thompson, a 32-year old self-styled trader, into prison custody for allegedly stealing a Nokia mobile phone valued at one point two million cedis and 600,000 cedis cash His plea was not taken and he is to re-appear on October 27 this year.

Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Andam Okyere said the accused is a leader of a gang of confidence tricksters.

He said sometime in September this year, the accused and some members of his gang saw the complainant, Vida Sunkart Baani, speaking on her mobile phone outside the offices of Obiri Lotteries where she works. Sergeant Okyere said the accused and his gang introduced themselves to the complainant as citizens of Cote d'Ivoire looking for somebody resident in the locality.

He said after chatting with the complainant for a while, the accused produced some substances in a polythene bag, which he said were diamond, gold and mercury.

Sergeant Okyere said the accused asked the complainant to exchange some of his personal possessions for the substances. He said the complainant gave away her Nokia mobile phone and a purse containing 600,000 cedis.

Sergeant Okyere said the accused collected the phone and the purse and gave the polythene containing the substances to the complainant. He said the accused and his gang went away and later when she opened the polythene bag, she found a brown stone and pieces of graphics.

Sergeant Okyere said on October 12 this year, the complainant met the accused at the Effiakuma Police Station and identified him to the Police.

He was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.