Two individuals have been brought before an Accra Circuit Court on charges of allegedly defrauding an American of $1,205,000 by promising to supply the victim with seven 20-foot containers filled with money. The accused, Dzam Abotsi, a car dealer, and Nana Kwame Yanka, a businessman, face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and defrauding under false pretenses. Abotsi reportedly demanded $100,500 from the complainant, along with an additional $200,000 for container rent and security protection. It is unclear how much money other accomplices may have taken from the American. Both Abotsi and Yanka have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted bail to the accused individuals in the sum of GHC1 million cedis with three sureties, one of whom must be justified. An accomplice named Alhaji Tanko, also facing the same charges, is currently at large. The case has been adjourned to November 23, 2023. The prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police Augustus Yirenkyi, revealed that the complainant, Gary Bernsten, is an American Asset Recovery Officer.
According to the prosecution, Abotsi and Yanka reside in Sowutuom and Chantan, respectively. The prosecution stated that Bernsten and his business partners in Brazil were informed about the presence of a cache of United States Dollars stored in approximately 20 containers in Ghana. As a result, Bernsten and his associates conducted investigations and decided to travel to Ghana to recover the money. Upon arriving in Ghana, Bernsten met with Abotsi, the first accused.
The prosecutor explained that Bernsten was taken to a warehouse in Sowutuom, where he inspected United States dollars concealed in approximately seven containers. A forensic examination of the dollars in these containers confirmed their authenticity. Abotsi allegedly charged the complainant $100,500, along with an additional $200,000 for container rent and security. These funds were transferred to Abotsi through cryptocurrency and wire transfer.
Bernsten engaged the services of Skynet Logistics to transport the seven containers filled with money to Tema, Community 12, based on Abotsi’s recommendations. However, a few days later, when Bernsten attempted to move the containers to Tema Harbour, he discovered that the warehouse was empty. He promptly reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrests of Abotsi and Yanka. Efforts are underway to apprehend Alhaji Tanko and other individuals who remain at large.
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