Fraudster jailed 10 months

Sekondi (W/R), Dec. 1, GNA - A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court, on Monday sentenced Kwame Owusu, an unemployed to 10 months' imprisonment in hard labour for defrauding by false pretences. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Court also ordered him to refund a total amount of 1.4 million cedis collected from the husband of Cecilia Buadu, the complainant, under the pretext of securing him a job.

The court said Madam Buadu could institute a civil action against Owusu, if he fails to refund the money. Prosecuting, Police Inspector Agnes Boafo, said Mad Buadu and the accused hailed from the same town.

She said sometime in September this year, Mad Buadu, who is a trader at Effiakuma, met the accused in the area and showed him where she lived.

Inspector Boafo said during their conversation, Owusu told her that he worked at a goldmine at Kenyasi and could secure a job for her husband at the mine.

The court heard that Owusu collected 450,000 cedis and 680,000 cedis on separate occasions from Madam Buadu to enable him expedite job arrangements for her husband.

Inspector Boafo said the Owusu Madam Buadu's husband, Arthur to Kenyasi, booked a hotel room for the two of them for a week at the expense of Arthur.

The accused also collected 300,000 cedis more from Arthur at Kenyasi to rent a room for him in the area. Inspector Boafo said Owusu failed to get Arthur the job as he promised and that all efforts to retrieve the monies paid him also proved futile.

Arthur therefore reported the matter to the Police, the court heard.