A suspected fraudster who claimed to be a National Security operative, Joe Amon Kotey, has been hauled before an Accra Circuit Court on charges of defrauding by false pretences in three separate cases.
The man, who is said to be well connected to the Castle, was granted bail in the sums of GH¢ 12,000, GH¢10,000 and GH¢8,000 in the three cases with two sureties to be justified.
As at press time yesterday, Kotey, an alleged government apparatchik, was yet to meet the bail terms.
This meant he might spend another night in the custody of the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) until the bail terms were met.
He is to re-appear on March 1, 2011.
According to DAILY GUIDE sources, Kotey was arrested by the Osu police on Friday February 11, 2011, following overwhelming reports that he allegedly posed as a National Security operative attached to the Confiscated Vehicles Unit at the Tema Port and took large sums of money from several individuals with the promise to get them confiscated vehicles meant for NDC faithful to buy.
Kotey, about 37-years-old, is alleged to have worked under Carl Wilson while he was in charge of confiscated vehicles at the Tema Port.
Carl Wilson, a darling boy of Alex Segbefia, deputy Chief of Staff, was booted out as chairman of Confiscated Vehicles Allocation Committee after several allegations of fraud.
Reports say Kotey had been arrested several times by officers from the CID Headquarters but was always freed with the support of a big shot of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Sources say he works for The Move Investment Ventures, the company whose name is used to allegedly defraud the victims.
A victim said Kotey’s trade was to advertise himself through friends that he could get prospective car buyers confiscated cars at a reduced price.
He takes the prospective buyer to the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) car park at the Tema port to make a choice from a fleet of cars.
After buyers make a choice, Kotey prices the car depending on their choices and demanded an upfront payment.
He would then issue receipts from The Move Investment Ventures situated at Circle, purported to belong to the NDC big shot.
When buyers pressured him for their cars, Kotey would then rent vehicles from private persons and give to his victims.
A source said so far, out of the over 35 vehicles he has allegedly rented, about 20 have been retrieved by their owners with several thousands of Ghana cedis outstanding to be paid.
A victim told DAILY GUIDE that his car was rented for about a year now at GH¢100 per day.
After five months payment, neither the money nor his car has been given to him.
He was however able to retrieve one of his cars in Tema from the user.
“My Toyota Corolla number GR681-10 is currently with one of Kotey’s victims and I’m losing money every day.” he lamented.
When DAILY GUIDE arrived at the Osu Police Station at about 1pm last Friday, over 12 of his alleged victims were discussing how they claimed to have been swindled.
Those who spoke to DAILY GUIDE said the man owed them various sums of money ranging between GH¢7000 to GH¢100,000.
Another victim who pleaded anonymity said Kotey rented five of his vehicles and only two have been retrieved.
Before DAILY GUIDE left the scene, one Tina had to hurriedly leave the police station following news that her rented car had been spotted somewhere.
She returned rather disappointed since the car was not at the location it was said to have been seen.
Kotey was later transferred to the Regional Police Headquarters where charges of fraud were preferred against him.
Meanwhile, Kotey’s Personal Assistant (PA), maintained that there is no wrong doing on the part of her boss since what was going on was pure business.
The PA, who refused to mention her name, maintained that the confiscated cars were supposed to be released by the Castle. However, there seemed to be a freeze up at the Castle, the reason for which Kotey had not been able to deliver on his part of the deal.
Kotey, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE from custody on Valentine’s Day, could not say much but maintained that the hold-up was not his fault and pleaded that the said victims exercise patience while he tried to get their money for them.
He debunked allegations that his company, The Move Investment Ventures, was owned by the said NDC big shot.
Meanwhile, momentum is gathering among the supposed victims who thronged the court premises yesterday.
The over twenty persons, who interacted with DAILY GUIDE after court proceedings, swore not to let their hard earned cash go down the drain.
They vowed to use every means possible to recover their money.
By Rocklyn Antonio