Kumasi, July 6, GNA - Two people who allegedly swindled a housewife= of GH¢6,300.00 under the pretext of selling her a piece of land are now in t= he grips of the law.

Kwabena Sarfo, 32, and Richard Kofi Frimpong, 48, were on Tuesday put before a Kumasi Circuit Court, charged with conspiracy and fraud. They denied the offence and each of them was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢15,000.00 with a surety to re-appear on July 17. Their accomplice, Peter Kyei, is on the run.

Police Chief Inspector Isaac Mensah Apenteng told the court presided over by Mr Justice William Boampong that Sarfo lives in the same neighbourhood with the complainant, Madam Abena Amponsah at Kronum-Kyerease whilst Frimpong resides at Ash-Town, all in Kumasi.

In May one of the children of the complainant, staying abroad, sent money to her for the purchase a plot to build a house. The woman therefore sought assistance from some of her relatives. The prosecution said on June 4, Sarfo approached her and claimed he knew of a parcel of land that was up for sale and she readily expressed interest. He introduced her to Frimpong and Kyei, who he alleged were the custodians of Osomuabua stool land at Aboahia and was later taken to inspec= t the said land they wanted to sell.

Madam Amponsah went into negotiations with them and they settled on GH¢6,300.00, which she paid.

The prosecution said having paid for the land, the woman started to develop it and it was at that point that trouble began as the real owners came to drive away the workers she had employed to undertake the job. She informed the accused persons and they promised to find her a suitable replacement but went into hiding and refused to pick her telephone calls. A report was made to the police and Sarfo and Frimpong were picked up from their hide out. They confessed to sharing the money in their caution statement.