A court in Accra has granted bail to 11 people accused of defrauding Sri Lankan lawmaker Dr. Muhammed Hizbullah of $2 million in a fake gold deal, according to Ghanaian media reports.
The accused — Abdul Rauf Adam, Alhmamoudi Saleh, Yaw Attah Antwi, Osman Suleman, Nhyiraba Dwamena Ra III, Benzcarl Dwamena, Sanfo Mubassir, Sallah Mammoudi, Ahmed Issah, Umaru Pafadenam and Salifu Suleman — were each released on bail of 500,000 Ghanaian cedis (about $33,000) with two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, the Accra Circuit Court Eight ruled.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspects conspired in 2023 to defraud Dr. Hizbullah, a Member of Parliament from Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, by claiming they could supply large quantities of gold. After receiving the payment, the group allegedly failed to deliver and later attempted to re-engage the MP with another 50-kilogram gold offer, backed by a memorandum of understanding.
The suspects were arrested on Oct. 16 in the Weija SCC area of Accra during a national security operation. Officers recovered two yellowish metallic items believed to be gold. Laboratory tests are under way to verify their authenticity.
All 11 have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretense and attempted fraud. They are scheduled to reappear in court on Nov. 20. (Newswire)