Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 12 January 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Court sentences trader for issuing dud cheque

Leticia Bruce will serve five months in prison if she defaults in paying a fine of GH Leticia Bruce will serve five months in prison if she defaults in paying a fine of GH

An Accra Circuit Court on Friday sentenced a Leticia Bruce a trader to a fine of GH¢960.00 for issuing a dud cheque to a businesswoman. She will serve five months imprisonment if she defaults in paying the fine.

She had pleaded not guilty to the offence but was found guilty after the trial and sentenced to 80 penalty units, the equivalent to GH¢960.00.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Haligah told the Court presided over by Mrs Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye that Madam Selina Opoku, the Prosecution witness in December 2015, supplied Leticia with a quantity of lace materials valued at Gh¢18,480.00 to be sold and monies paid back to her in two weeks.

He said the convict failed to fulfil her part of the bargain so Selina went and collect the rest of the materials worth GH¢12,885.00 as Leticia had sold out a quantity valued at GH¢5,595.00.

Chief Inspector Haligah said on May 25, 2016, Leticia issued a cheque with the face value of GH¢4,000.00 as part payment of the money upon demands made by Madam Selina, but when she presented the cheque, it was dishonoured.

The Prosecution said Selina then reported the case to the police and Leticia was arrested.

He said Leticia during trial admitted that she did not have enough money in her bank account but issued the cheque because of the pressure mounted on her by Madam Selina.

The court found Leticia guilty and convicted her accordingly.