Accra, March 8, GNA - A Police Corporal and a civilian were on Wednesday brought before an Accra Circuit Court for conspiring and defrauding a Nigerian businessman of 7,000 dollars.

Ibrahim Mohammed, an Islamic Scholar and Corporal Mumuni Borso, alias Capito, were alleged to have collected the money under the pretext of clearing goods at the Tema Harbour but failed to do so. Mohammed, who was present in court, pleaded not guilty to the charge while his accomplice did not turn up.

The court admitted Mohammed to a 200 million-cedi bail with one surety to re-appear on April 6.

The case of the Prosecution was that on August 1, 2005, Mr Musah Yakubu, the complainant, reported that Mohammed had collected 7,000 dollars from him to clear some goods at Tema Harbour. The Prosecution said two days before the incident Mohammed sent Mr Yakubu to Tema where he (Mohammed) picked a chemical in a bottle which he claimed he had used the 7,000 dollars to purchase.

The Prosecution said Mohammed later informed Mr Yakubu that they should go and see his business partner who was waiting for them at Ashaiman.

On their way, Borso and two other Policemen arrested them. They asked Mr Yakubu to leave while they escorted Mohammed to the Police station.

Mohammed later returned and informed the complainant that the Policemen were demanding 2,000 dollars before they could release the chemical to him.

At a meeting, Borso took 1.5 million cedis and seized Mr Yakubu's mobile phone in lieu of the 2,000 dollars.

On August 2, 2005, when Mr Yakubu met the two accused persons to pay for the 2,000 dollars, the Police arrested them. During Police interrogation the accused admitted the offence but Borse denied it saying that he was going to arrest Mr Yakubu, who was wanted by the Airport Police for a traffic offence. However, investigations proved otherwise.