Court adjourns trial of Russian

The Accra Circuit Court has adjourned the trial of the Russian businessman who allegedly defrauded another Russian businessman of $2 million.

The adjournment followed the absence of the prosecution witness, Mr V. V. Rudenko, who is said to have been defrauded by Ramazan Kafarov on May 24, 2011 under the pretext of undertaking a feasibility study for a joint business project in Ghana.

The court, however, ordered the prosecution to arrange for the next witness for the trial to commence.

The court, presided by Mr Justice Francis Obiri, also told the prosecution to collaborate with the registrar of the court to arrange for a Russian-speaking interpreter at the next adjourned date of May 20, 2015.

Kafarov was granted bail on March 6, 2015, with three sureties, all Ghanaians.

He is also to report himself to the police between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. every Wednesday. 

Kafarov has been charged with defrauding by false pretence, but he has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Arrest

The accused person, who is wanted in Russia, was arrested by personnel from the Accra branch of Interpol and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) at his East Legon residence on February 25, 2015.

His arrest followed a red alert sent to Interpol Accra by Interpol Moscow, Russia, on January 28, 2014.

Facts 

The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abraham Annor, told the court that on January 28, 2014, Interpol Accra received a message from Interpol Moscow requesting it to help locate and arrest fugitive Kafarov who  was wanted in Russia for defrauding by false pretences.

According to Interpol Moscow, on May 4, 2011, the accused person defrauded Rudenko of $2 million.

“The accused, under the pretext of taking a loan from the complainant for the purpose of a joint business development,  deceived the latter to transfer the $2 million to his Ecobank account in Ghana,” DSP Annor said.

It said Kafarov took the money, knowing very well that he did not intend to meet the undertaking.

“All efforts made by the complainant to retrieve his money have proved futile, since the suspect refused to communicate with him via phone calls or meet him personally,” he said.