The court, presided over by Judge Abena Asoh Owusu-Omenyo, denied a bail application filed by the accused, Nana Ama Nwarueze, popularly known as Ohemaa, through her lawyers.
The court stated that she might not make herself available for trial if granted bail, the report added.
As a result, the judge ordered a detailed investigation into Nwarueze’s background after the prosecution revealed that she did not have a fixed place of residence.
The report also indicated that the accused was charged with one count of defrauding by false pretense by a prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apewa Achana.
Ohemaa was arrested after a bench warrant was issued in December 2024, following unsuccessful attempts to arrest her.
She has, therefore, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Chief Inspector Achana, according to the report, while narrating the facts of the case to the court, said the complainant, Dorothy Asare, was introduced to Ohemaa, the accused, through a mutual friend.
The accused allegedly portrayed herself as a wealthy businesswoman who owned several properties, including the Ohemaa Plaza at East Legon, fishing vessels in Takoradi, and a house at Airport Residential Area, in order to convince the complainant to collect her money.
According to the prosecutor, the accused also claimed to have over 10 containers of goods at the Tema Port and requested $5,000 from the complainant to clear them, convincing her of a refund within three weeks.
The prosecutor added that; “Upon realising that the complainant was not convinced, the accused, in a bid to persuade her, further claimed she was in partnership with Devtraco and showed her an ongoing apartment construction project, which she said would be leased out upon completion and generate significant income.”
Seeming convinced enough, the complainant then gave to the accused another $5,000 at her supposed residence at Airport Residential Area.
A month later, the accused contacted the complainant again, requesting an additional $8,000 to resolve an alleged issue at the port, promising to repay the full $13,000 within two weeks. The complainant conformed and made payment.
However, after three weeks, the accused failed to repay the amount and began giving excuses.
Following this, the complainant said she could no longer reach her and later discovered that the property at Airport Residential Area did not belong to Ohemaa and that she had no partnership with Devtraco.
“Further, the accused had vacated the residence without leaving a trace,” Chief Inspector Achana said.
During investigations, the accused failed to prove the existence of any containers at the ports in Ghana, the report said.
The prosecution concluded that all representations were false and made solely with the intent to defraud the complainant of $13,000.
