Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - A 68-year old miner on Monday appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra for defrauding a Sierra Leonean National of various sums of money under the pretext of supplying him 60 kilograms of gold.

The accused, Nana Tetteh defrauded the complainant of 17,500 dollars and 1,000 Pounds Sterling.

The Court presided over by Nathaniel Osam did not take the plea of the accused and remanded him into prison custody to reappear on December 14. The Court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of one Alhaji Nuhu, an accomplice, who is at large.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Paul Kissi Frimpong told the Court that the complainant Abdulai Kiromah is a Sierra Leonean based in London but currently in the country on a business trip. In July, this year, a witness introduced the accused to the complainant that he had raw gold for sale.

Mr Frimpong said after bargaining for 60 kg of gold at 540,000 dollars, a sample of the gold was later tested and found to be genuine. The accused then demanded 20,000 dollars for documentation and export.

ASP Frimpong said on September 1, 2004 Mr Kiromah paid 10,000 dollars and 7,500 dollars to Tetteh on two separate occasions in October.

He said Tetteh then scheduled October 25, as the date for the export.

ASP Frimpong noted that on the said date, Tetteh sent the alleged gold to the Kotoka International Airport for export and in the process, one Alhaji Nuhu now at large came in and posed as the 'Bigman' to Tetteh, saying he would not allow the export until 50,000 dollars was paid.

Mr Kiromah did not understand why he should pay such an amount, which was not part of the initial deal.

He said Tetteh took an additional amount of 1,000 Pounds Sterling from Kiromah yet he could not export the gold.

Later, Tetteh told Mr Kiromah that his 'Bigman' Alhaji had brought a court order against him and based on that the gold had been taken away to a security warehouse.

ASP Frimpong said Mr Kiromah became suspicious and reported the case to the Police.

Tetteh in his statement to the Police admitted collecting the sums of money but he claimed the gold was with Alhaji Tarkwa. 22 Nov. 04