Judge Gives Fraudster Last Chance

An Accra Circuit Court yesterday gave a gold dealer in his mid 50s his last opportunity to refund an amount of GH�494,000 to a businessman from whom he took money with the promise to supply him with gold or face prosecution in default. The gold dealer, Victor Essilfie, alias Ali, took GH�605,994.77 from Mr Eric Akutey Azu with a promise to supply the latter with 6.535kgs of gold. Victor Essilfie, however, faked an armed robbery attack on his way to supply the gold. The trial judge hearing the case, Mr Eric Kyei Baffour, ordered the accused to meet with the complainant, Mr Eric Akutey Azu, and agree on terms of repayment. His order came after the accused person had failed on several occasions to refund the money or supply the gold to Mr Azu. �By court, I will afford the accused person the last opportunity to meet with the complainant to draw a payment plan before the next adjourned date since the money involved is huge. I am also expecting some payments to be made before the time,� the judge noted. He added that if the accused refused to obey his order he would commence hearing and prosecute him accordingly with or without his lawyer. He adjourned the case to July 11 for continuation.