The Mpraeso Circuit Court on Wednesday sentenced Fredrick Owusu, a 27-year-old trader, to 25 years imprisonment in hard labour for defrauding a teacher at Mpraeso Senior High School.

Owusu pleaded guilty to a charge of defrauding by false pretences.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Inspector Christian Apronti told the court presided over by Mr. Kwaku Osei that in March this year, the complainant, who wanted to purchase a car, contacted Owusu on the internet and he promised to sell to him two “home used” Toyota Corolla Salon cars.

He said after the bidding, Owusu whose motive was to defraud the complainant, placed different varieties of Toyota cars on the internet for the victim to make his choice.

The prosecutor said Owusu who had no car to sell, quickly went to a car Rental Company in Accra and hired a Pontiac salon car with registration number GR 1216-11 and sent it to the complainant at Mpraeso as collateral and collected GH? 13,000 from him to enable him to clear the Toyota corolla car from the Tema Harbor.

He said after collecting the money, Owusu switched off all his contacts and went into hiding.

The complainant, who became suspicious, then reported Owusu to the police and the Pontiac car was impounded for investigations.

Owusu went to Duayaw Nkwanta, Koforidua, and Accra to defraud a number of people with the pretense of purchasing “home used” vehicles for them and was later arrested by the Tesano Police in Accra.

The Nkawkaw Police later went for Owusu and he admitted the offence in his caution statement.