An Accra Circuit Tribunal has remanded in prison custody a building contractor, who collected 1,200 pounds, 300 dollars and 650,000 cedis form two persons resident abroad under the pretext of securing building plots for them.

Isaac Agyekum, alias Owiredu, pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretence. The case is rescheduled for May 16.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Y. Amega told the tribunal chaired by Mr Mohammed Nabon that the two complainants, Mr Joseph Asamoah and Mr Samuel Darko both American-based businessmen sent 300 dollars and 1,200 pounds respectively to Agyekum in 1999 to purchase building plots for them.

He said when the two complainants visited Ghana later that year, Agyekum approached Mr Darko and told him that he needed some money to register the land, which he had acquired for them. Mr Darko gave him additional 650,000 cedis.

Mr Amega said the accused person sent Mr Asamoah and Mr Darko to inspect plots of land at Weija which he claimed he had bought for them.

Chief Inspector Amega said last year, Mr Asamoah and Mr Darko started to develop the land, but some people who claimed ownership stopped them.

He said on April 28 this year, at a meeting between the complainants and the accused person, he agreed to refund the money.

However, while they were on their way to his sister's house for the settlement, the accused person disappeared leaving his Nissan Pick-Up.

The prosecutor said accused person went to the Kwashieman Police Station and made a report to the police that Mr Asamoah and Mr Darko had attacked him with weapons and collected 7.2 million cedis from his vehicle.

However, Mr Asamoah and Mr Darko also drove the abandoned pick-up to the Achimota School Police Station and lodged a complaint.

He added that when Agyekum was invited by the Achimota Police for interrogation, it was revealed that there was no truth in Agyekum's statement.