Journalist Samuel Obeng Mensah, also known as Osei Kwame or Prof, has appeared in court over allegations that he defrauded 13 people of GH¢178,900 under the pretext of securing their enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies.

The accused allegedly collected GH¢19,900 from one Matrib Benjamin and GH¢20,000 from Oppong Frederick Denteh.

He is also accused of taking GH¢139,000 from 11 other applicants who were introduced to him by Seth Reagan Gyamfi.

According to investigations, none of the 13 applicants secured enlistment into the security services despite making the payments.

Investigators further established that Mensah had neither the capacity nor the necessary connections to facilitate recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces or other security agencies.

The case centres on allegations that he used promises of securing recruitment opportunities to obtain money from the applicants.