Accra, Jan. 18, and GNA - A 24 year old hotelier, who used the name of the Acting Minister of Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quashiegah (rtd) to defraud one Mable Chirapanga, unemployed, was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody for fraud.

Kofi Quashiegah was charged with two counts of stealing and defrauding by pretences. The accused, whose plea was not taken, is to reappear on February 3, 2005.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Benedicta Akolgo told a Circuit Court presided over by Mr Nathaniel Osam that sometime in October last year, the accused contacted Ms Chirapanga to purchase some cars from her for Major Quashiegah.

ASP Akolgo said two cars valued at 60 million cedis and 15 thousand Euros, respectively were given to the accused to sell, but all efforts to get the money proved futile.

ASP Akolgo stated that the accused later approached Ms Chirapanga and introduced himself as the son of the Minister, and that he could help her get five of her seized cars at the Police Headquarters released to her.

She said, based on that the accused collected an amount of 3,000 dollars and 25 million cedis, respectively to be given to some top officials at the Police Headquarters but he could not deliver. ASP Akolgo said the accused admitted the offence during Police interrogation.