Two men have been remanded by the Assin Fosu District Court for their alleged involvement in separate mobile money (MoMo) fraud cases involving a combined amount of GH¢168,724.
The suspects are Felix Larbi, a trader from Assin Andoe, and Frederick Owusu, an unemployed resident of Assin Kyinso.
They were arrested by the Cybercrime Unit of the Central North Regional Police Command following investigations into separate complaints lodged by mobile money merchants.
Chief Inspector Gilbert Abagna Anyongo, leading the prosecution, told the court that the suspects allegedly used telephone conversations to deceive the merchants into transferring money to accounts linked to them and their accomplices.
In the first case, Larbi is alleged to have played a role in a scheme that resulted in the transfer of GH¢153,724.
The prosecution said the complainant received a phone call from a person posing as a relative who claimed he wanted to send money.
The complainant was subsequently persuaded to conduct several mobile money transactions, while another suspect, identified as Obed Buabeng, alias Tabibi, allegedly took over the conversation and directed the transactions.
The money was reportedly transferred to a merchant account associated with another suspect, Kofi Annan, who, together with Buabeng, is currently at large.
The complainant later contacted MTN, leading to GH¢54,897.03 being blocked.
Police intelligence subsequently led to Larbi’s arrest at his hideout in Assin Andoe.
The prosecution said Larbi admitted his involvement during interrogation and disclosed that he received GH¢15,000 from the proceeds.
In the second case, Owusu is accused of defrauding another mobile money merchant of GH¢15,000 at Assin Fosu Roman Hill.
The prosecution said the complainant was allegedly deceived during a prolonged telephone conversation and persuaded to transfer the money to a merchant account.
Police investigations revealed that GH¢9,840 was later transferred to a Telecel number allegedly operated by Owusu, who subsequently withdrew the funds.
He was arrested at his hideout in Assin Andoe.
The prosecution said Owusu also admitted his involvement and told investigators that he received GH¢1,200 as his share of the proceeds.
The court, presided over by His Worship Abdul Majid Iliasu, remanded both suspects into police custody to enable the police to continue investigations.
They are expected to reappear before the court on September 17, 2026.
Police are also pursuing other persons allegedly linked to the two cases who remain at large.
