Kumasi, Jan 16, GNA - Benjamin Sarpong, unemployed, was on Monday remanded in police custody by a Kumasi circuit court for allegedly collecting over 300 million cedis from 31 persons under the pretext of securing them rooms.

Sarpong, who pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and fraud, will re-appear before the court on January 25.

A second accused person, Irene Mensah, wife of Sarpong, with whom it was believed the fraudulent deals were carried out, is on the run. Police Chief Inspector Alice Ansah told the court presided over by Mr Kwabena Adutwum Mmorosah that the couple lived in a house belonging to Irene's mother at South Suntreso in Kumasi.

Chief Inspector Ansah said between the months of February and October last year, Irene went from one church to another with the message that they had rooms and flats to rent and some people showed interest.

She said a lot of people including the victims paid monies ranging from five million cedis to 25.5 million cedis to the couple to secure either a single room or a flat.

After collecting the monies, both went into hiding until December 21 last year when Sarpong was traced and arrested by the Nima police in Accra and brought down to Kumasi.

In his caution statement, the accused admitted collecting the monies and has refunded 99.3 million cedis to the police.