An Accra Circuit Court has discharged six individuals who were arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to circulate fake United States currency totaling $1 million.
The decision, handed down by Her Honour Susan Eduful, was based on the court’s lack of jurisdiction to continue with the case, which remains under investigation.
The suspects — Abdel Razak Djidonou (44, consultant), Simon Mbillam (property agent), Mohammed Ibrahim (62, contractor), Prince Pius (44, businessman), George Bonsu (64, driver), and Chief Toni Silas (53, businessman) — were initially facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, forgery, and possession of forged currency notes.
A seventh suspect, identified as Dr. Jamal, remains at large.
Alleged Fake Currency Deal with International Dimensions
According to police and court documents, the alleged scheme involved an international victim: a Ukrainian businessman, who had been lured from Germany to Ghana under the false pretense of participating in a lucrative currency investment deal.
The suspects reportedly told the complainant that they could provide counterfeit US dollar bills amounting to $1 million, which could then be “washed” or “treated” and sent to Austria for investment purposes.
The suspects allegedly collected $10,000 from the Ukrainian as an “appointment fee” to initiate the transaction.
Arrest and Seizure of Fake Notes
The operation came to a head on June 8, 2025, when law enforcement received a tip that the suspects had been detained by National Security operatives in Abokobi, a suburb of Accra.
The suspects were reportedly found with a green metal trunk and a “Ghana Must Go” bag, both allegedly containing forged currency.
The suspects and the exhibits were then transferred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.
According to prosecutors, the notes are suspected to be part of a broader counterfeit money syndicate operating in parts of West Africa, using Ghana as a transit or operation point.
Legal Proceedings and Bail Request
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the Circuit Court discharged the suspects due to a lack of jurisdiction, a procedural limitation that now leaves the case’s future dependent on whether it will be refiled in a competent court — possibly a High Court or Financial and Economic Division.
Lawyer for the accused, Mr. Andrew Vortia, argued for bail and highlighted the alleged mistreatment of the suspects during arrest, claiming they suffered facial and bodily injuries.
Broader Implications
The case shines a spotlight on transnational financial crime schemes increasingly targeting unsuspecting foreign investors, especially through fake investment and currency deals.
These operations often involve elaborate setups, complete with forged documentation, counterfeit currency, and insider-style deception.
While the suspects have been discharged, the case may not be over.
Investigations are still ongoing, and the police are yet to apprehend the seventh suspect, Dr. Jamal, believed to be a central figure in the alleged plot.
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