A self-styled evangelist who allegedly defrauded two persons in the sum of GH¢ 1, 840.00 under the pretext of digging up gold and “juju” hidden in their houses is in the grip of the law.

Emmanuel Kwaakye, 24, was granted bail by a Cape Coast District Magistrate’s court in the sum of GH¢ 10, 000.00 with two sureties, one to be justified.

Kwaakye pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit crime to wit defrauding by false pretenses, guilty with explanation to defrauding and not guilty to another charge of defrauding.

His accomplice, whose name was only given as Kweku Joshua, is on the run.

Inspector Christina Sampong told the court presided over by Mr. William Baffoe that the complainants are Mr. Eric Ashong, a taxi driver, and Ms. Felicia Arthur, resident at Budumburam.

She said in October and November last year, Kwakye was preaching at Abura where Mr. Ashong works during which he appealed for accommodation since according to him his hotel bills were unbearable.

Mr. Ashong, who was touched, introduced him to his mother who gave Kwaakye a room in her house at Asinadze to occupy freely.

Kwaakye claimed he had a vision that Mr. Ashong’s late father was killed by a “juju” some of his family members planted because of some gold the deceased had hidden there.

Kwaakye said if the “juju” was not dug out the rest of the family would die and Mr. Ashong and his mother gave him GH¢ 240.00 to buy anointing oil for rituals.

Inspector Sampong said the following day, at about 1900hrs, Kwakye led Mr. Ashong and his family to the back of their house and with a shovel, dug out a small pot tied with red thread, red pieces of cloth and some cowries, containing small pins and small arrows and handed it over to Mr. Ashong.

Later Kwaakye took his accomplice to the house and introduced him to Mr. Ashong as the one who could dig out the gold and collected GH¢ 600.00 from Mr. Ashong and his mother under the pretext of buying oil from Kumasi to be used for rituals

The self-styled evangelist was also introduced to one Ms. Arthur who was said to be going through financial crisis and she took him to her house at Budumburam near Kasoa.

Kwaakye said her financial problems were due to some juju planted in her house and collected GH¢ 1,000 under the pretext of buying oil from Kumasi but bolted.

When a search was conducted in the room he occupied, they found pieces of red cloth, red and black sewing threads, small pins, a small mirror, Bible tied with black sewing thread with a Key inside , suggesting he made the pot himself and planted it behind the house.

On February 18, Kwaakye ran out of luck as he was spotted at Yamoransa near Cape Coast and was arrested and during police interrogation he said it was his accomplice who bolted with Mr. Ashong’s money.

She said Kwakye added that in Ms. Arthur's case, he bought the oil but left it in a VIP bus.