Benjamin Appiah Boateng, a 35-year-old forex trader, has been remanded in police custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding two individuals of a significant amount of money.
The accused, Benjamin Appiah Boateng, faces charges of theft and fraud for allegedly defrauding Mr. Berry Kwadwo Agyapong and Mr. David Burke of USD $300,000 and GH₵10,445,000, respectively.
The court was informed that Boateng, a resident of Oyibi, persuaded Mr. Agyapong and Mr. Burke to invest in cryptocurrency, particularly USDT, on platforms like Binance. Presenting himself as a successful forex trader with a history of profitable investments, he lured the victims with promises of substantial returns.
Mr. Agyapong, who initially invested USD $300,000 in Boateng’s scheme, later introduced the investment opportunity to Mr. Burke. A businessman, Mr. Burke initially invested GH₵555,000, later increasing his total investment to GH₵9,890,000 after Boateng assured him of steady profits and regular dividend payouts.
However, when Mr. Burke attempted to withdraw his original investment along with the accrued dividends, Boateng became unresponsive. Both Mr. Burke and Mr. Agyapong made multiple attempts to reach Boateng, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
In a desperate attempt to justify his actions, Boateng sent a WhatsApp voice note to the victims, revealing that he had gambled away their entire investments on an online platform called “Stake.” To heighten the victims’ distress, he allegedly also sent a message resembling a suicide note, causing them further alarm.
In light of this, Mr. Burke immediately reported the incident to the police, which led to Boateng’s arrest. During police questioning, Boateng reportedly admitted to the charges of fraud and theft, confessing his role in the scam.
The case was brought before the court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah. However, the court did not take Boateng’s plea and ordered him to be remanded in police custody. The case has been adjourned, with the next hearing set for January 13, 2025, for further legal proceedings.
