By Thelma Veracruz (Bureau Chief South-South, in Portharcourt)
The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a Dutch couple: Peiter Borremans and Nkechi Borremans alongside Lagon Trade Limited before Justice E.A Obile of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for suspected fraudulent dealings involving a marine Tanker Vessel to the tune of $330,000(Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars).
They were arraigned on two- count charges bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
One of the counts reads:
They pleaded "not guilty" to the charges when they were read to them.
Justice Obile adjourned the matter till March 31, 2021, for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendants in EFCC custody.
Trouble started for the couple when a petitioner alleged that his company: Jackkyson Multi Services Limited and A lot General services Limited, offered to purchase a Marine Tanker Vessel from Lagon Trade Limited( belonging to Peiter Borremans and Nkechi Borremans) for One Million One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars( $1,100,000) and made a part payment of Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars ($330,000:00).
The defendants allegedly vanished into thin air after collecting the money and all efforts to get a refund or delivery of the Vessel proved abortive. NNL.
