"I am very sorry, forgive me my lord"

Kumasi, Jan. 26, GNA- A 28-year-old unemployed, who defrauded seven people under the pretext of securing them admission into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Nursing Training College (NTC) in the country, pleaded for forgiveness when he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

David Tawiah Robertson remorsefully stated "I am very

sorry, forgive me my lord", when he was convicted on his own

plea, and asked to pay a fine of GH=A21,000 plus an amount of

GH=A26,122, which he took from his victims. In default, he would serve 36 months in prison in hard

labour. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Owusu Manu told the

Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Ernest Yao Obimpe

that, David, the convict and the complainant Grace Afari

Dankwa, a student of the University of Education Winneba,

Kumasi Campus were long time friends at Tepa in the Ashanti

Region. He explained that David, who was now living in Accra,

whilst the complainant lives at Abrepo in Kumasi. He said some time in 2006, Robertson called Grace on her

phone and asked her to find interested Senior High School

(SHS) graduates who wanted to be enlisted into the Ghana

Armed Forces as well as those who want to pursue their

education at the Nursing Training Colleges in any part of the

country, since he could help. The prosecutor said Robertson instructed her that those

interested must submit their passport sized photographs,

result slips, birth certificates as well as not less than GH=A2400 to

him through the complainant. To show his seriousness, Robertson travelled all the way to

Kumasi and managed to secure the said amount from the

seven victims. After receiving the money, he issued admission letters to

some of the victims through the complainant and absconded. The victims then sent their letters to the various institutions

only to be told the letters were faked, so they caused the

arrest of the complainant, but with the help of the Odorkor

Police, the convict was also arrested and brought to Kumasi. In his caution statement, he denied collecting money from

the complainant, but admitted having disguised himself on

different occasion as an Army Officer, a Bursar or an

accountant upon the instructions of the complainant. The convict was then charged with the offence after Police

investigations.