An Accra Circuit Court has ruled that former Black Stars player Prince Tagoe must pay GH¢10 per dollar in the auto fraud case against him.
Tagoe has repaid $21,000 (GH¢210,000), leaving a remaining balance of $19,000.
However, during the proceedings, Tagoe argued that he intended to repay the money based on the dollar rate for the year 2021.
Detective Chief Inspector Agartha Abena Asantewa, leading the prosecution, opposed Tagoe’s request, emphasizing that the money the complainant had given to him was in dollars.
The prosecution has set the dollar rate at GHC10, although they acknowledged that this was not the current rate on the forex market.
Prince Tagoe is accused of defrauding Blacks Stars Assistant Coach George Boateng of $40,000. He allegedly took the money under the pretense of importing a Lexus sports utility vehicle for Boateng.
Tagoe has denied the charge but has already made partial payments of GH¢20,000, GH¢70,000, and GH¢71,000, respectively.
He has been granted bail in the amount of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one of whom must be a civil servant. Additionally, one of the sureties can be justified with landed property.
George Antwi Boateng, a former player himself, is the complainant in the case. Detective Chief Inspector Agartha Abena Asantewaa informed the court that Boateng, based in Germany, had worked with Tagoe in the past in Germany.
The prosecution alleged that in 2020, Tagoe and Boateng met in Ghana, where Boateng expressed his need for a vehicle. Tagoe agreed to import a vehicle for Boateng for $40,000, equivalent to GH¢265,200.
The court heard that the $40,000 was deposited into Tagoe’s bank account on January 8, 2021, and he confirmed receipt with a phone call to Boateng.
Tagoe had promised to deliver the vehicle to Boateng by March 30, 2021, but failed to do so, requesting an extra two weeks, which Boateng agreed to. Ultimately, Tagoe was unable to import the vehicle as promised.
When Boateng traveled to Ghana on April 27, 2021, to collect the vehicle, he was unsuccessful. Tagoe allegedly informed Boateng that he couldn’t import the vehicle because he had spent the money on something more urgent.
The case has been adjourned until February 21, 2024.
