NPP Parliamentary aspirant fined for fraud

Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Friday found Abed Okunnor, 2008 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary aspirant for Ningo Prampram Constituency, guilty for fraud.

He pleaded not guilty for defrauding by false pretences.

Okunnor, a Clerical Officer of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), defrauded Mr. Stephen Takyi, a Kumasi-based trader, in the sum of GH¢15,500 under the pretext of supplying him (Takyi) some scraps.

The court presided over by Mr. D.E.K. Daketse sentenced Okunnor to GH¢1,200 fine or in default serve five years imprisonment in hard labour.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) A.A. Annor, told the court that on November 25, 2008, the complainant who deals in scraps needed some to buy and Okunnor offered to supply him some scraps.

He said Okunnor led the complainant to the precincts of TOR and showed him some scraps which the complainant paid for but Okunnor failed to deliver them.

The prosecution said a report was made to the Police and Okunnor was arrested on January 21, 2009, he promised to refund the money but failed and went into hiding until April 22, 2009 when he was re-arrested by the Police and after investigations charged with the offence.