A 35-year-old woman, Jessica Oforiwa, has been sentenced to five years in prison for her role in a cheque cloning scam. Oforiwa, a caterer and hairdresser, was convicted on seven charges, including abetment of crime and stealing.

The scam involved Oforiwa and her accomplices using chemical methods to erase account details and signatures on original cheques. They would then use these cloned cheques to withdraw money from various accounts at GCB Bank.

The total amount stolen through the scam was GH₵81,060. Oforiwa's accomplices, who are still at large, used the cloned cheques to make several successful withdrawals from different accounts.

The court heard that Oforiwa played a key role in the scam, using her company, Jesnat Cook Company, to receive the cloned cheques. She would then use these cheques to withdraw money from the bank.

Oforiwa's accomplices included Dawda Sawdido, Mohammed Muktar, Fuseini Saeed Ibrahim, Felix Mensah, Lawrence Quarshie, and Philip Ansah. They are still at large and are wanted by the police.

The court emphasized the importance of safeguarding shareholder and depositor interests to maintain public trust. The judge urged financial institutions to strengthen their ICT systems and train staff to scrutinize cheques and other financial instruments thoroughly to prevent such fraud.

Oforiwa's sentence serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in similar fraudulent activities. The court's emphasis on the need for financial institutions to improve their security measures is also a timely reminder of the importance of protecting customers' funds.

The case highlights the need for vigilance and cooperation between financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and the public to prevent and detect financial crimes. By working together, we can help to protect the integrity of our financial systems and prevent fraudsters from exploiting vulnerable individuals and businesses.