Wa, June 28, GNA - A Wa Circuit Court on Monday sentenced a 40-year-old Security Officer of Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) in Wa to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour for defrauding a Wa-based Businessman of 9.6 million cedis.

The convict, John Amoah was charged with fictitious trading. He pleaded guilty.

The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Mohammed A. Mustapha convicted him on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Stephen Dobara told the Court that the Convict was a Security Officer at the Regional Head Office of the GHA in Wa, while the complainant, Frank Thompson Quaku was the salesman at Alhaji Sualihu Mumuni Enterprise, a Supermarket at Wa. Chief Inspector Dobara said that the Amoah on January 26, this year, went to the Quaku and introduced himself as the security officer of the GHA.

He bargained and collected goods on credit worth 9,662,000 cedis ostensibly to supply to his colleagues and to pay for them at the end of February 2004.

Chief Inspector Dobara said at the stipulated period, Amoah failed to pay for the goods despite several demand notices sent to him. The Prosecutor said the matter was reported to the Police and amoah was arrested. Chief Inspector Dobara said Amoah admitted the offence during interrogation but said that he rather sent the goods to Hamile for sale but could not account for the money. The Presiding Judge advised Quaku to institute a civil action against Amoah after he had served the jail term to recover the amount involved. 28 June 04