Businessman arrested in alleged land fraud

An Accra-based businessman, Chris Hammond, finds himself in the grips of the law, facing charges of forgery and defrauding by false pretence.

Hammond was arrested by the Property Fraud Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Head Quarters, in connection with a land dispute in Santoe, near Nungua.

He is accused of fleecing unsuspecting land buyers out of thousands of dollars by falsifying land documents and promising them plots in prime areas.

Hammond's alleged scheme unravelled when one of his victims, a woman named Martha and her husband, decided to conduct due diligence on a parcel of land they had purchased from him for over $50,000.

It is reported that Hammond had been operating under the guise of working for Nii Odai Ayiku IV, a prominent figure in Nungua.

Upon his arrest, Chris Hammond desperately attempted to justify his actions, presenting documents from the Mapping and Survey Department, which he claimed indicated the land belonged to a company called Kew Gardens, which has Mr. Dennis Lan, a Korean, as its Managing Director but whose signature had been falsified.

However, a thorough investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the police service quickly exposed the deception.

The CID's checks and interrogation revealed that Hammond, with the assistance of one Mr. Grant, had forged the documents.

The office of the estate of the late B. K. Quartey-Papafio provided the original land titles, which starkly contrasted with Hammond's fraudulent papers, highlighting significant discrepancies in markings and land valuation.

"Chris Hammond forged the land documents. Interrogation revealed significant discrepancies, including incorrect markings and a misstated land value, clearly indicating the forgery," a police source stated.

Consequently, Chris Hammond has been formally charged with forgery and defrauding by false pretence.

As a direct result of the investigation, he has been directed to refund $25,000, which represents part payment he received from Martha and her husband for the disputed land.

An official search report order by the Property Fraud Unit of the Ghana Police Service from the Lands Commission proved the ownership of the land at the PVLMD, SMD and Land Title Registry belonging to the Quartey-Papafio

Further details regarding the land's true ownership have shed more light on the matter.

The land in question is part of over 1,200 acres that were ceded by the Papafio-Quartey family by the Nungua Stool years ago, following an agreement between the two entities.

This clarification means that only the Papafio-Quartey family holds legitimate titles to all lands within the East Legon Hills and Santoe enclave.