Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 26 September 2015

Source: GNA

Court grants bail to swindler

The Tarkwa District Court II, has granted a bail of GHC7,000.00, with a surety, to a 48 year-old farmer, Stephen Acquah for swindling two men.

The accused person, pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretense and conspiracy.

He would re-appear on September 28.

Prosecuting, Inspector Faustina Celestine Anaman told the court, presided over by Madam Justice Gifty Cudjoe, that the complainants, Haruna Yakubu and Paul Asamoah are farmers at Badukrom, a farming community near Tarkwa.

The accused person and his accomplice Joe, who is on the run, are also farmers from Agona Nkwanta.

She indicated that in June, Stephen and Joe boarded a taxi, which was driven by Yakubu to Badukrom.

Inspector Anaman said while on their way to Badukrom, the accused person informed Yakubu that he was a soothsayer and a money doubler.

The Prosecutor said Yakubu showed interest, and he informed Asamaoh and they gave GHC5,900.00 to the accused to be doubled as he convinced them by producing some monies on a key soap box.

The accused person then told the complainants that he was going to perform some special ritual on the money and that he would return their money doubled.

Inspector Anaman said the complainants waited for months but the accused person and his partner did not bring their money as he promised.

She said on September 9, around 8:00 am, the complainants, alerted the police and intentionally called Acquah on his mobile phone, and asked him to come for additional money. Acquah was arrested by the police when he got to Tarkwa but Joe escaped.