Kennedy Ofosu, aka Richard Osei, a music producer, who allegedly collected GH¢7,500 and a Ghanaian passport from a carpenter, under the pretext of sending him to Italy, was on Monday put before an Accra Circuit Court, charged with fraud.
Ofosu is said to have told Mr Eric Mensah, the complainant that he would include his name in the list of members of his band, which was going to perform in Italy.
The band, however, never went to Italy to perform but he assured Mr Mensah of another trip to Australia.
Ofosu, who pleaded not guilty, has been remanded into police custody to reappear on June 15.
Police Inspector Jubiok Michaels, the prosecutor, told the court that in June last year, Mr Mensah expressed interest to travel to Europe.
The complainant therefore informed his brother, Mr Derrick Mensah, domiciled in Europe to contact the accused.
The prosecution said the complainant who lived in Asankraguaa in the Western Region, travelled to Accra and he and a witness in the case, Mr Samuel Ofori-Amponsah, came to see the accused in Accra.
When they met the accused, he confirmed to the complainant that he was sending a group to Europe and that he was going to include his name as a member of his band.
The prosecution said Ofosu demanded and collected GH GH¢7,500 and a Ghanaian passport and informed him that they would be leaving on July 10, 2008.
After collecting the money, Ofosu went into hiding, but on May 29, this year Mr Ofori-Amponsah spotted him at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
The accused took to his heels but luck ran out on him when he was apprehended and escorted to the Odorkor Police Station.