Akim Oda, Feb 27, GNA - A 52-year-old unemployed, Frank Antwi-Mensah, who impersonated the Akim Oda District Manager of the Forest Services Division (FSD) and issued them with fake permits to fell timber had been remanded in police custody by a Magistrate Court at Akim Oda.

Antwi-Mensah, whose plea was not taken on a submission by the prosecution would re-appear before the Court on March 8. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Monku Kofi Oduro, told the court, presided over Mr Edward Kwmae Bosompem Apenkwah, that Antwi-Mensah went about introducing himself to some chainsaw operators at Akim Achease and the neighbouring communities as the new Akim Oda District Manager of FSD on transfer from Accra.

The prosecution told the court that through such deception, Antwi-Mensah registered some operators of chainsaw machines, issued them with fake permits and released portions of the Akim Nyankomase Forest Reserve to them to fell trees. He said the operators managed to fell nine trees from the Forest Reserve, sawed them and carted the boards away.

Inspector Oduro said in the process of felling more trees, Forest Guards in-charge of the Reserve apprehended the operators who showed them the fake permits, which authorized them to fell the trees. He said the Guards reported the case to their District Director, Mr Thomas Okyere and he caused the arrest of the chainsaw operators who were made to assist the police to get the imposter arrested. He said Antwi-Mensah extended his fraudulent activities to Accra where he was arrested and brought to Akim Oda.