Court sentences two persons for land fraud

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced two persons to a fine of GH¢1,000.00 each for defrauding a man of GH¢8,000.00 under the pretext of securing him a plot of land at Nmai Dzorn, in the Greater Accra Region.

The Court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh, also ordered them to pay a compensation of GH¢8,000.00 to the complainant.

In default, they would serve 12 months imprisonment in hard labour.

The complainant also has the right to a civil suit to claim the cost incurred on workmanship, building materials, among others, the Court added.

Benjamin Boye Tawiah and Daniel Mensah, however, denied to charges of conspiring, fraudulent transaction, forging of documents and defrauding Courage Kwaku Agbanu, the complainant.

But, Nii Okpelor Jacob Ablor Mensah, who was jointly charged with the two, was acquitted and discharged by the Court.

Giving the facts of the case, Detective Police Chief Inspector Isaac Agbemehia, said all of them were members of the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie, explaining that the Family had a large tract of land at Nmai Dzorn.

On November 25, 2005, the then Head of the Family, Eugene Odametey Sowah (now deceased) sold 0.24 acre of land to one Janet Adowa Gyemfa Bediako, who was then in London, but acquired the land through her son, Richard Kwadwo Osei Sarpong, also a witness in the case.

The Prosecution said in 2012, Nii Ablor, the successor to Mr Sowah, jointly sold the same plot of land to Agbanu at GH¢10,500.00 but he made a part payment, for which indenture was executed in his name.

He then constructed a fence wall in December 2012. But on October 22, 2013, he went to the land and met Sarpong developing it.

Chief Inspector Agbemehia said, three days after, the complainant reported the case to the Police, which led to the arrests.

After investigations they were arraigned, Prosecution stated.