Crime & Punishment of Monday, 4 January 2016

Source: GNA

Student's bail revoked by court after attempting to travel

Elvis Amoah, a student allegedly involved in a GH¢83,500 cedi fraud case, was arrested by security officials and handed over to an Accra Circuit Court when he attempted to travel outside the country.

Amoah is alleged to have defrauded Dr Isaac Kwabena Boakye of the stated amount under the pretext of selling to him four plots of land at Kwabenya in Accra.

The said plots, however, belonged to the state.

The Court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku today revoked his 100,000 cedis bail and remanded him into lawful custody to reappear on January 18.

The Court further ordered for the seizure of his new Ghanaian passport and green card.

The GNA gathered that Amoah had prayed the Court to grant him two months adjournment to visit his ailing mother in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The Court, however, at its last sitting declined and gave him two weeks.

On December 30, Amoah attempted to travel outside the country but was nabbed by security officials at the Kotoka International Airport.

As part of his earlier bail condition in May 2015, the Court ordered Amoah to deposit his Ghanaian passport and green card but he managed to secure a new passport and green card and attempted to travel with them on December 30.

Charged with defrauding by false pretences, Amoah had pleaded not guilty.

He was therefore granted GH¢ 100,000 with three sureties one to be a public servant earning not less than GH¢ 500 cedis a month.

As part of the bail conditions he was to deposit his Ghanaian passport and USA green card to the Court.

In the substantive case, prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.A. Annor said the complainant is a medical practitioner resident in Germany and Amoah is a student of Illinois Institute of Technology in the USA.

In 2010, when the accused person was in Ghana he made the complainant believe that he could secure him four plots of land at Kwabenya in Accra.

Based on that DSP Annor said Amoah collected GH¢ 83,500 from Dr Boakye and allegedly issued the complainant with an Indenture dated November 3, 2011.

According to prosecution the indenture was signed by Nii Adjei Kpobi Asaawa and Ernest Okine.

When the complainant attempted to develop the land he was resisted by another person.

The complainant therefore conducted an official search at the Lands Commission and it came to light that the land belongs to the State.

Accused however disagreed with the complainant’s report after the search, failed to refund the complainant money and attempted to sneak out of the country.

Meanwhile on May 14, last year, Ghana Immigration Service Officers at the Kotoka International Airport were served with arrest warrant.

On May 18, last year, Amoah was found checking in to board a KLM flight to Amsterdam when Immigration officers arrested him and handed him over to the Police.

Amoah in his caution statement admitted the offence.