Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Source: GNA

Prominent musician before court for fraud

Accra, May 13, GNA- The trial of one of Ghana's

renowned hip-life artistes, Emmanuel Botchway aka Kwaw Kesse

who is accused of fraud, entered its second day at an Accra High

Court. Kesse was dragged to court for allegedly defrauding her

ex-lover of 7,000 pounds sterling. The money was supposed to

have been used on a building at Prampram in the Greater Accra

Region. He has denied the charge of fraud and was on GH

15,000 cedis bail. Answering questions under cross examination by Naa

Norley Tetteh, Ms. Happi Chappell, told the court that she visited

Ghana on a number of occasions and the last trip to Ghana was on

January this year. She said she arrived in the country on board Ghana

International Airline (GIA) on January 4, this year and Kesse, in the

company of some friends picked her up at the airport. Ms. Chappell contended that she gave Kesse 7,000

pounds which were in 50 notes. According to the complainant, she lodged at Torica

Lodge, Spintex, where she stayed for four weeks and three days. She said after handing over the money to Kesse, she

depended on friends and some remittances from the United

Kingdom. Complainant, after taking a bill from Torica Hotel,

denied that, she booked the hotel explaining that, it was Kesse who

took her to the hotel. Police Inspector Jubiok Michaels, earlier told the court

that, until that case, Kesse and Ms Chappell were "good lovers" in

2008, she (the complainant) decided to develop her plot of land at

Prampram after the two had visited the site. Prosecution said, in January this year, Ms. Chappell

returned from the United Kingdom and gave 7,000 pounds to Kesse

but he refused to use the money for the project. After several attempts to collect her money, she lodged a

complainant with the Police and he was arrested. During Police interrogation, Kesse admitted having

received 1,000 pounds and not 7,000 pounds. 13 May, 09