Florence Bondze Adofo is 56 years old and trader but has come into conflict with the law for allegedly defrauding a Forex Bureau operator, Chief Haruna Saley, off GH¢652,500.00.

The accused allegedly succeeded in taking the money with the help of two others -Abdulai Hashim and Alhaji Taminu – of which the latter is on the run

Florence and Abdulai are, therefore, facing conspiracy to commit a crime, defrauding by false pretences, and dishonestly receiving charges.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and had been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Rosemary Baah Torsu.

The court slapped Florence with a bail sum in an amount of GH¢600,000.00 with three sureties and Abdulai to a sum of GH¢100,000.00 with one surety.
Her Honour Torsu has adjourned the case to April 17, 2023,  for continuation.

The full fact of the case as presented by Inspector Cyrus E. Conduah, the Forex bureau operator is the complainant. 

According to him, on November 22,  2022, Florence (A1) contacted a witness in the case, Detective Corporal Thompson Abraham Ntosour on phone that she had US$45,000 readily available and wanted someone who could buy it with Ghana Cedis.

He told the court that the officer then introduced A1 (first accused) to the complainant and they agreed on GH¢652,500 for the US$45,000. 

The complainant together with the Police officer met Al at SIC Mall Car Park at Makola in Accra, and the Complainant handed over the money to her.

Florence after receiving the money demanded that complainant should wait behind whiles the Police Officer accompanied her to Opera Square to get the US$45,000 for the complainant. 

When Al and the Police Officer got to the Opera Square, she asked the Officer to wait behind an office whiles she goes inside to bring the said dollars.

Interestingly, A1 was said to have emerged from the said office without the US$45,000 she intended to change or the Comptanant’s money.

The court was told that she allegedly deceitfully told the officer that Abdulai (A2) after collecting the Cedis, could not raise the US$45,000.00 and that they were expecting some dollars in no time. 

The Police officer then escorted Al back to the SIC Mall Car Park to narrate her story to the complainant. 

At the car park, Al told complainant that A2 would soon bring the anticipated dollars to the complainant waited for a while and the money was no forthcoming, he became suspicious and quickly arrested her to Accra Central Police Station and lodged a complaint to that effect. 

At the Police station, an amount of GH¢45,000,00 from her, and subsequently, that money was released to the complainant.

During investigation, Al told the Police that her representations to the complainant was based on a promise she received from Alhaji Taminu (A3) who works with A2.

She intimated further that the said Alhaji Taminu called her on phone to the effect that his boss, A2. had US$ 70,000.00, and was looking for persons who could buy it with Ghana Cedis at a relatively low rate. 

Based on this information, she became interested and contacted the complainant through the aforementioned Police officer. 

A1 in her caution statement admitted has having collected the entire amount stated on the charge sheet from complainant and further stated that she gave the said money to A3, being the business partner. 

Abdulai was subsequently arrested and in his caution statement to the Police, admitted having received cash of GH¢605,000 from Al.

The prosecutor told the court that after investigations, both Al and A2 were charged with the offences stated on the charge sheet.

He added that strenuous efforts are being made to apprehend Alhaji Taminu to stand trial before the court.