MP’s Swindler Sent Back To The Cooler


Mr. Stephen Amoah Marfo, an Accra based businessman, who allegedly defrauded the Member of Parliament for Upper Denkira West in Central Region, Mr. Benjamin Aryeh, to the tune of GH¢600,000 was yesterday denied bail for the second time by an Accra Circuit court, despite   his counsel’s countless plea.

The MP for Upper Denkyere West loaned the money to the accused to help facilitate the documentation and transfer of $25 million from United States of America to Ghana.

Appearing before the court yesterday, presided over by His Lordship Francis Obiri, Stephen Amoah Marfo brought GH¢50,000 as part payment of the GH¢600,000   to the MP.

The lawyer for Stephen Amoah Marfo, in presenting the money to the Court, pleaded that his client be granted bail to enable them raise the rest of the money to pay back the loan.

The court, after hearing their case, refused to grant the accused person bail. He is expected to re-appear before the court in February 21, 2014.

According to Stephen Amoah Marfo’s counsel, it would be impossible for his client to raise the money whilst in police custody, especially since the reason for the complainant bringing the issue to court was to get his money and not the imprisonment of his client.

  ‘My Lord as you can see him standing in the dock, he is not too well. I went round to raise this money with the hope that we will be granted bail’, he told the court.

But His Lordship, Francis Obiri said the amount of GH¢50,000 brought as part payment was too small when the GH¢600,000 debt is taken into consideration.

‘We are talking about GH¢ 600,000 and you have brought only GH¢50,000. What you have is not even up to 1/3 of the amount involve.   If you have brought at least GH¢100,000 or GH¢300,000 it would have been better. But what you have brought cannot even pay his tithe’, the judge said.

Stephen Amoah Marfo is facing the charges of defrauding by false pretence, contrary to section 131 of Act 29/60, and issue of false cheque, contrary to section 313A of Act 29/60.

Briefing the court about the fact of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Superintendent Tuaruka Duuti noted that in August 2012, Stephen Amoah Marfo collected  GH¢600,000 from the complainant.

According him, the accused took the said amount under the pretext of using it to facilitate the documentation and transfer of an amount of $25 million in New York to Ghana.

The accused promised Mr. Benjamin Kofi Ayeh that the process would be completed within two weeks, but failed to contact the complainant since then.

‘Complainant, upon his personal investigation traced Stephen Amoah Marfo to his hideout at Dome. The accused, upon seeing the complainant issued a Zenith Bank Cheque No.000157 dated 07/09/12 with a face valued of GH¢600,000 to be drawn by the complainant’.

Mr. Tuaruka Duuti further told the court that when the complainant presented the said cheque to the bank, it was dishonored for lack of funds and the accused failed to pay the money, whilst vacating his known place of abode. 

In March 20, 2013, the complainant (Benjamin Kofi Ayeh) reported the case to the police, leading to the arrest of accused person.

‘Investigation disclosed that the accused used a forged letter claiming to have originated from Financial Crime Enforcement Network, New York/ USA dated 12/08/12 to convince the complainant, but when the said letter was verified, it was found to be forged. After investigations, accused was accordingly charged and put before court’.

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