An Accra Circuit has issued a Bench Warrant for the arrest of two individuals suspected of engaging in currency counterfeiting.
The suspects, Zuwela Alhaji, 30, and Abba Haruna, 33, are accused of defrauding a scrap dealer by exchanging 28 bundles of counterfeit 100-dollar notes for GH¢15,960.
The bench warrant was issued after the duo failed to appear in court when the case was called. Zuwela and Ibrahim Halidu, a couple, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and possessing forged currency.
Zuwela, who is unemployed, is additionally charged with defrauding by false pretence. Abba Haruna, also unemployed, faces a charge of compounding crime. Ibrahim Halidu, a 58-year-old unemployed individual, has been granted bail by the court.
Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer revealed that the complainant, Bukari Mukaila, is a scrap dealer residing in Kasoa, Central Region, although his business is located in Galaway, Accra.
The prosecution stated that Zuwela, a housewife, resides in Nsuano, Kasoa, while Halidu, a mechanic, is a landlord in Kasoa.
According to the prosecution, on May 27, 2023, Zuwela approached Mukaila at his workplace with 28 bundles of 100-dollar bills, urgently requesting GH¢ 15,960 in exchange for the dollars. She claimed that she didn't have time to convert the dollars into Ghanaian cedis.
Zuwela convinced the complainant to keep the dollars, promising to return the equivalent amount in cedis later that same day. However, she failed to fulfil her promise.
Concerned, Mukaila examined the dollars and suspected them to be counterfeit currency. On May 30, 2023, he traced Zuwela to her residence, where he encountered Halidu.
Halidu admitted that the dollar bills belonged to him but claimed ignorance of how Zuwela obtained them from his room. Halidu collected the dollar notes from the complainant, advising him not to pursue the matter further.
On June 2, 2023, Mukaila reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of Zuwela and Halidu in the presence of Haruna.
During their escort to the police station, Halidu instructed Haruna to bury the money, which was later recovered and handed over to the police.
During interrogation, Zuwela confessed that the counterfeit currency belonged to Halidu, her husband, who instructed her to exchange it for Ghanaian cedis with unsuspecting victims.
The seized exhibits have been forwarded to the Bank of Ghana for examination, and the police are awaiting the results.
