Crime & Punishment of Sunday, 22 May 2011

Source: GNA

91-year old woman dragged to court for alleged fraud

A 91-year-old woman standing trail in a Kumasi Circuit Court for allegedly swindling a teacher of her GH¢900 under the pretext of providing her with accommodation, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢3,000 with a surety.

Felicia Donkor pleaded not guilty to the offence and would re-appear on May 30.

Police Inspector Philip Yao Bebli told the Court presided over by Mr Justice Emmanuel Amoh-Yartey that the complainant, Grace Oduro, with the assistance of an estate agent, approached the accused in September, last year to rent a room in her house at Adoato, a suburb of Kumasi.

They settled on an amount of GH¢1,000 and Grace made a part payment of GH¢900.

After receiving the money, the accused failed to honour her part of the agreement.

For almost eight months, anytime, Grace went to the house she never met the old lady.

She therefore became suspicious and reported the matter to the police who arrested her.

Granting bail to Felicia, the judge said he took into consideration the fact that the accused had already refunded GH¢500 and warned that she should make sure that the remaining amount was paid before the next sitting.

If she failed, she would face the full rigours of the law.