Former Black Stars player, Prince Tagoe, in a bid to avoid going to prison, has so far refunded $21,000 (GHS 210,000 equivalent) to former Black Stars Assistant Coach, George Boateng, who he allegedly defrauded $40,000.

This leaves an outstanding balance of $19,000 which the player is to pay in order for the criminal case brought against him to be discontinued.

Tagoe has denied the charge leveled against him but is taking no chances, hence, has so far made payments of GH¢20,000, GH¢70,000 and GH¢71,000, to the complainant.

He is before a Circuit Court in Accra charged with defrauding by false pretences after failing to fulfill his promise to import a Lexus sports utility vehicle for the Assistant Coach.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been granted a bail of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one of whom should be a civil servant.

One of the sureties is to be justified with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

When the case was called before the court, Prince Tagoe contended that he was going to refund the money based on the 2021 Dollar to Cedi exchange rate.

This was objected to by the prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector, Agartha Abena Asantewa, who said the money given by the complainant to him the accused were in dollars.

She said the prosecution had pegged one dollar at GH¢10, although it is not the current exchange rate on the forex market.

The court subsequently ordered Prince Tagoe to pay $40,000 at an exchange rate of GH¢10 per dollar.

Prosecution’s brief facts before the court states that, Antwi Boateng, also a former Ghanaian footballer, was based in Germany.

The prosecutor said Tagoe, was once a player under the management of the complainant in Germany.

Chief Inspector Asantewaa said in 2020, Tagoe and Boateng met in Ghana and the complainant told the accused that he needed to buy a vehicle.

The prosecution said Tagoe agreed to import a vehicle for the complainant at $40, 000, which is equivalent to GH¢265, 200.

She said $40,000 was deposited into Tagoe’s bank account on January 8, 2021, and he acknowledged receipt with a phone call to Boateng.

The facts said Tagoe promised to deliver the vehicle to Boateng on March 30, 2021, but failed.

Tagoe called Boateng and asked for an extra two weeks to deliver the car, to which he agreed.

The court heard that Tagoe was unable to import the vehicle as promised.

The prosecution said Boateng travelled to Ghana on April 27, 2021, to pick up his vehicle, but he was unsuccessful.

When Boateng called to ask for the vehicle, Tagoe allegedly said that he could not import the vehicle because he had spent the money on a more pressing matter.

The matter has been adjourned to February 21, 2024.

Source: Daily Guide