A fraudster, Obaa Panyin Theresa Yabi of the Okorase royal family has been slapped with a five-year jail term for defrauding a medical doctor and teacher.
The 65-year-old lady was morose after a Circuit Court in Koforidua, presided by Cynthia Wiredu, found her guilty of the charges against her and sentenced her accordingly.
Theresa Tabi jumped bail during the trial in September and went into hiding. She is said to have maligned the trial judge and the police.
According to the prosecution, led by Supt. Kofi Blagodzie, two persons Dr. Joseph Kwame Asumane, a medical officer and Lloyd Twum, lodged complaints against Theresa Tabi in October, 2014.
Dr. Asumane bought three plots of land at the cost of GH¢24,000 from her while Lloyd Twum bought one at the cost of GH¢7,500.00.
A search conducted by the two at the Lands Commission in Koforidua indicated that the said plots of land did not belong to her.
The lands were registered in the names of Beatrice Afua-Obour and Caroline Apeakorama.
The complainants subsequently informed the accused person who agreed to refund their monies to them but failed to do so. The victims then reported the matter to the police. The convict, who refused to honour the invitation of the police, was later arrested and arraigned before court.
Obaa Panyin Theresa Tabi, who is said to have gained notoriety for such cases but always escapes arrest, jumped bail after the court set a date for ruling in September 2015. She was arrested at her residence at Okorase near Koforidua after a bench warrant was issued for her arrest on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.
She was put before the court, presided over by Cynthia Wiredu on Wednesday December 16 and was found guilty of defrauding by false pretenses. The court subsequently sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment to serve as deterrent to others.
As at the time of filing this report, Obaa Panyin Tabi was being transported to the Nsawam Medium Prisons to begin her jail term. The inhabitants of Okorase where she hails from were jubilant. The chief of the town, who is a nephew of the convict, is also in court with her over a case related to a family land.
