Twumasi-Appiah granted bail

Friday, May 1, 2010 (Page 3)

THE Member of Parliament for Sene, Felix Twumasi-Appiah, who is standing trial with a Spanish business partner for fraud and stealing, was yesterday granted a self-recognisance bail in the sum of GH¢100,000.
His accomplice, Huan Carlos, the Spanish businessman, was also granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties.
The two, who have been accused of defrauding a businessman to the tune of $30,000, have pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, stealing and defrauding by false pretences.
The court, presided over by Mr D. E. K. Daketsey, adjourned the case to May 15, 2010.
The MP, who wore a striped pink shirt over a dark blue pair of trousers, looked indifferent when the charges were read out to him.
Counsel for the accused persons, Mr Josh Nimako, indicated that his clients were making efforts to refund the money to the businessman, but maintained his clients’ innocence in the matter.
However, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr A. Dery, pointed out that the fact that the accused persons were willing to refund the money to the complainant did not mean the criminal matter would not go on.
The facts of the case are that the complainant, Juan Francisco Lozano, a Spanish businessman, was on a visit to Ghana to transact business.
In March 2010, a certain Nana Kwame Donkor, another businessman, had a transaction with Mr Lozano for his company to supply the latter with gold worth $160,000 in three tranches.
According to the prosecution, Nana Donkor was unable to supply the third tranche of gold and therefore promised to refund the remaining money to the complainant.
The prosecution stated that Nana Donkor then contacted the MP to help in the transfer of the money back to the complainant in instalments, since it was not possible to transfer the amount in cash through the banks and as a result, two blank cheques were signed by Nana Donkor and left for the accused persons to facilitate the transfer.
The prosecution said the money was to get to Spain through two persons who were called Ibrahim and Ishmael, and when Nana Donkor sent the money through the account of the two persons in Spain, they bolted with it.
In addition, Nana Donkor paid $30,000 as part payment to the police for the money to be given to the complainant.
According to the prosecution, the MP directed Carlos to go to the office of the Unit Commander of the Commercial Unit, Superintendent Yaa Tiwaa Danso, where Carlos claimed that Mr Lozano was sick and could not come to Ghana and had, therefore, instructed him (Carlos) to collect the money on his behalf.
The prosecution noted that it was only later after contacting Nana Donkor about the remaining money that Lozano was told that it had been given to the police to be given back to him.
It said Lozano contacted the police and was told the money had been sent to him through his friend Carlos.