A Kumasi circuit court has sentenced a businessman to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour for swindling three people GH¢11,000.00 under the pretext of supplying them with second-hand fridges.

Kwabena Owusu Achiaw, 45, pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Chief Inspector Archibald Kwesi Fandoh told the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that the complainants, the Reverend Coleman De-Graft, Bernard Ofori Boateng and Benjamin Ohene Asante are dealers in second-hand fridges at South Suntreso in Kumasi.

He said on June 11, Achiaw was introduced to the complainants by a lady and claimed he had imported a 40-feet container full of second-hand fridges, which had arrived at the Tema Harbour.

He told them that he needed an amount of GH¢15,000.00 to clear the goods from the port and promised to sell these to the traders if they helped him to raise the said amount.

Chief Inspector Fandoh said the complainants expressed interest and between them paid GH¢11,000.00 to the convict.

He said Achiaw after collecting the money gave the assurance that the fridges would arrive within two weeks but could not deliver on his promise and all efforts at getting him to refund their monies failed.

Chief Inspector Fandor said a formal report to the police was made and he was detained as he had been earlier arrested by the police at Nima in Accra for a similar offence.