Trader sentenced for fraud

An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday asked Charles Osei Twum, a trader, to refund an amount of $4,200 he collected by false pretence or in default serve eight weeks imprisonment.

Charles, who pleaded not guilty, defrauded Flora Adom with the promise to secure her documents to enable her travel to Italy.

Police Chief Inspector Patrick Hanson, who presented the facts of the case, said the complainant is a business woman and resident in Adenta while the convict is a Ghanaian resident in Italy.

He said in September 2008, the convict came to Ghana and was introduced to the complainant by one Sakoddie that he could secure traveling documents for her to Italy.

Police Chief Inspector Hanson said the convict collected the amount of money the court asked him to refund from the complainant and promised that the document would be ready in two weeks’ time after he had gone back to Italy.

He said the convict left the country to Italy, and since then, all efforts made to reach him failed.

The prosecution told the court that the convict has since visited Ghana on two occasions, but did not bother to look for the complainant for an update.

He said about four months ago, the convict came into the country, but did not look for the complainant as usual and was not located until a message was sent to the Immigration at the Kotoka International Airport for him to be monitored.

He said on August 10, the convict was arrested while going through check-in formalities with the view of traveling back to Italy, and he admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.