Nigerian fraudster jailed in Techiman

Techiman (B/A), Jan. 12 GNA - A circuit court in Techiman has sentenced a 35 year-old Nigerian trader to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for possessing fake papers cut into the sizes of Ghana Cedi notes without authority, contrary to section 19 (a) clause (1) of currency Act 242 of 1994.

Stanley Eze pleaded guilty to the offence of possessing bundles of pieces of paper resembling New Ghana Cedis notes with intent to print forged currency notes to the tune of GHC 20,000 and was sentenced on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Comfort Adubia Nyamesah, told the court presided over by Mr. Godwin Kwasi-Kumah that at about 0900 hours on December 14, last year Eze, who is resident at Accra New-Town arrived at Kintampo and approached a witness (name withheld) that he had in his possession bundles of papers that could be converted into 20,000 Ghana cedis.

Chief Inspector Nyamesah said Eze demanded GHC 10,000 from the witness who feigned interest and asked him to wait whilst he went to withdraw money from the bank.

The Prosecutor said the witness immediately alerted the police who dispatched an officer to accompany the witness and act as a customer who also wanted the currency. Chief Inspector Nyamesah said during the transaction the policeman arrested Eze together with the fake papers. The Nigerian admitted the offence was subsequently arraigned before the circuit court. Passing judgment, Mr. Kwasi-Kumah expressed dismay about how foreigners trooped into the country under the guise of helping to improve the economy but had rather turned round to sabotage the nation. He warned that the court would not deal leniently with such currency traffickers and ordered the destruction of the bundles of the fake papers.