‘Military recruiter’ busted after defrauding 3 nurses

A 32-year-old businessman has been arraigned before court for allegedly defrauding three nurses of GH¢6,400 on the pretext of getting them enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces.

Prince Essel Ferguson, who is alleged to have posed as Captain Dankwa of the Ghana Army, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences when he appeared before the Circuit Court in Accra.

Two others, who are said to have acted with the accused in allegedly defrauding the three nurses of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, are currently on the run.

The court, presided over by Ms Afia Owusu Appiah, granted him bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with two sureties.

Hearing continues on August 5, 2020.

Facts

Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, said in August last year, Mr Fergurson met one Leticia Lewah, a senior nurse and a witness in the case at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and asked her for assistance.

The prosecutor said the accused introduced himself as Captain Dankwa of the Military Intelligence Unit who was on secondment in Sudan at the time.

Contact exchange

He said Mr Ferguson told Ms Lewah that he was at the hospital to investigate a doctor who had been newly recruited into the Ghana Armed Forces and exchanged phone contacts with the nurse.

Two days later, Inspector Ahiabor said, Mr Ferguson called Ms Lewah and asked her whether she had relatives who were interested in being enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces.

Slots

The prosecution said Mr Ferguson told Ms Lewah that he had been given three slots in the Ghana Armed Forces, and that he could secure slots for people who were interested in joining the Ghana Army.

Inspector Ahiabor said the nurse later informed two others who were working under her about the opportunity and they expressed interest to be recruited into the force.

The prosecution added that she introduced the accused person to her friends and they began dealing with him in relation with the opportunity.

Payments

 He said Mr Ferguson asked each of the nurses to pay GH¢300 for the purchase of the military recruitment form through mobile money.

Inspector Ahiabor said the three met Mr Ferguson separately to fill the forms after which he took GH¢150 from each of them for fuel.

The prosecution said Mr Ferguson again collected GH¢6,400 from the three for various purposes.

Suspicion and arrest

But the nurses became suspicious when Mr Ferguson asked them to pay GH¢800 each to settle some army officers.

They then informed Ms Lewah who eventually reported the matter to the military police.

The prosecutor said Mr Ferguson was, however, arrested and handed over to the police when he came over to meet Ms Lewah for the money he had requested for.

During the investigation, the prosecutor said, Mr Ferguson mentioned one Colonel Samba and Majeed, in his caution statement as military officers who were behind the deal.

The two are currently on the run.