ELECTRICIAN FINED FOR FRAUD (PAGE 27, MIRROR, FEB 13, 2010)

From Samuel Duodu,
Kintampo

The Kintampo Magistrate Court in the Brong Ahafo Region, presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah, has sentenced a 31-year-old electrician, who betrayed the trust of his bosom friend, to a fine of GH¢1,200 for defrauding by false pretence.
Mohammed Fuseini, who pleaded guilty to the offence, will in default go to jail for four months.
The convict deceived his friend, Kwasi Enock, who was also the complainant in the case that the proceeds from the sale of an accident car had been deposited at a bank.
The convict, who was found guilty for the offence and convicted accordingly, raised his hand in court and said his relatives had brought GH¢500 out of an amount of GH¢1,000 being the final payment of the accident car to court to be given to the complainant.
Consequently, the judge said he factored in the GH¢500 into his judgement and also the fact that the convict was a first offender to pass a lean sentence and told the convict that he was not a trusted friend and therefore, admonished him to mend his ways.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector Wisdom Ahiakpor told the court that in February, 2009, the complainant sold his accident car to a man at Techiman and an amount of GH¢1,000 was paid to the accused on behalf of the complainant.
He said the convict brought the money to the complainant at Kintampo and told him that a rural bank was giving soft loans and if the money was deposited at the bank, after three months, the GH¢1,000 will secure him a loan of GH¢3,000.
Inspector Ahiakpor said the complainant showed interest and gave the accused GH¢700 to deposit and later GH¢350 bringing the total amount to GH1,050.
He said after three months, the convict invited the complainant to Techiman and they went to the bank on three occasions, but on those occasions, the convict asked the complainant to sit outside the bank, while he transacted business with the bank officials.
Inspector Ahiakpor said on those three occasions, the stories were that the manager was not around.
He told the court that it was later that it came to light that the convict had sent the money to his brother in Libya.
The complainant arrested the convict and handed him over to the police and in his cautioned statement, he admitted the offence.