Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Source: GNA

Spiritualist jailed 18 months for swindling

The Bibiani Magistrates’ court has sentenced a self-styled spiritualist to 18 months imprisonment for duping two people of GH¢1,500.00 under the pretext of helping them to secure employment at the Chirano Gold Mine.

Usman Tijani pleaded guilty to the crime.

Police Detective Inspector Mike Agbaglo told the court, presided over by Mr Osei Kofi Amoako that, the victims, George Tetteh and Emmanuel Mensah lives at Akoti in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District.

Sometime in 2010, the convict, claiming to be a spiritualist from Banda in the Brong-Ahafo Region went to Akoti, advertised on a local information centre for those with spiritual problems and other needs to consult him for solution.

The two, eager to land a job at the mine that has been operating in the community, approached Tijani for assistance.

He demanded a total amount of GH¢1,500.00 and a number of fowls from them, which they provided.

He arranged with them to meet at a nearby farm to perform some rituals but failed to show up and fled the town.

He run out of luck on February 20, this year, when one of the victim’s spotted him at Bibiani, raised the alarm and aided by some other people arrested and handed him over to the police.