Two in court over employment fraud

Two young men who allegedly defrauded three persons of Ghc 4,000 each under the pretext of securing them jobs at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), have been granted bail by a Kumasi Circuit Court.

Lawrence Opoku, who claims to be a National Service person and George Adjei, trader, 29, pleaded not guilty. They would reappear before the Court on July 29.

A third accomplice, George Boafo, now on the run, is being sought for by the Police.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Timothy Amoako told the court, that in September 2013, the accused persons met the victims at the Registrar- General’s Department in Kumasi, where they (accused) had gone to register their business.

The court, presided over by Madam Comfort Tasiame, heard that the accused persons then met the three, Henry Akwasi Nkansah, Edward Marfo, and MacDonnell Boamah, the complainants in the case ,were undertaking their mandatory one-year National Service National Service at the Department.

In the course of their interaction with the complainants, the accused succeeded in convincing complainants that their connections with the Employment Minister could facilitate their employment at SSNIT.

The three young men eager to find jobs believed a promise that their appointment letters would be ready within five months after they had paid the said amount, the prosecutor said.

The two parties then agreed after the five months to meet in Accra on a set date but the accused persons never showed up, the Court heard.

The complainants later reported the matter to the Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID), in Kumasi, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.