In the unfolding auto fraud case, an Accra Circuit Court has mandated former Black Stars player, Prince Tagoe, to reimburse GH₵10 for each dollar implicated in the alleged scam, according to GNA reports.
Tagoe has repaid $21,000 (equivalent to GH₵210,000), leaving an outstanding balance of $19,000.
During the court session, Tagoe suggested repaying the money based on the 2021 dollar rate.
Still, Prosecution, led by Detective Chief Inspector Agartha Abena Asantewa, opposed this request, arguing that the funds given to Tagoe by the complainant, Black Stars Assistant Coach George Boateng, were in dollars.
They maintained a rate of GH₵10 per dollar, even though it wasn’t the current forex market rate.
Prince Tagoe faces allegations of defrauding George Boateng of $40,000, ostensibly for importing a Lexus sports utility vehicle.
Tagoe denies the charge but has made partial payments of GH¢20,000, GH¢70,000, and GH¢71,000. The court granted him bail at GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one of whom must be a civil servant. Additionally, the court allowed one of the sureties to be justified with landed property.
The complainant, George Antwi Boateng, a former player residing in Germany, recounted that Tagoe and Boateng, who had a previous player-manager relationship in Germany, met in Ghana in 2020. Tagoe agreed to import a vehicle for Boateng at the cost of $40,000, equivalent to GH¢265,200.
Chief Inspector Asantewaa explained that $40,000 was deposited into Tagoe’s bank account on January 8, 2021. Despite Tagoe’s assurance of delivering the vehicle by March 30, 2021, he failed to do so. Upon returning to Ghana on April 27, 2021, Boateng discovered the unfulfilled transaction. Tagoe allegedly admitted to spending the money on other matters, leading to the fraud allegations.
The case has been adjourned to February 21, 2024.