Pastor on 25 million cedis bail for fraud

Cape Coast, July 24, GNA_ Richard Ocran, a 53- year-old self-styled pastor, who allegedly duped a woman of 10 million cedis and went into hiding for four years, was on Monday granted 25 million cedis bail with a surety to be justified by a circuit court at Cape Coast.

He pleaded not guilty and would reappear on August 22.

Prosecuting, chief inspector Hope Azasoo told the court, presided over by Mr Beresford Acquah, that the complainant, one madam Elizabeth Boamah, lives at Pedu, and Ocran, at Adisadel village both suburbs of Cape Coast.

He alleged that sometime in 2003, Madam Boamah expressed interest in buying a plot of land in any part of the municipality to build a house, and Ocran told her that he had a plot of land for sale. Chief inspector Azasoo further alleged that Ocran then collected an amount of 10 million cedis from her as payment for the land, but failed to hand over its ownership and bolted.

He said Madam Boamah reported the matter to the police and Ocran was later arrested and in his caution statement, admitted collecting the money and pleaded with the police to give him some time to refund it. He was therefore given a police enquiry bail, but he jumped bail and all efforts to trace him proved futile, until his surety appeared with him on June 21, this year, to deposit an amount of 4.5 million cedis as part payment of the money and promised to settle the balance later.