Six Illegal Lotto Operators Go To Jail

Kumasi, Aug. 29, - A Kumasi community tribunal, today sentenced six lotto operators in Kumasi to 30 days imprisonment each on their own plea for operating illegal lotto Bingo. They are John Anane, James Adu, Patrick Aning, George Mensah, Kwabena Amankwaa and Kwaku Ababio. Two others, Kwaku Boadu and Abena Serwa, who pleaded guilty to the same charge were given lesser sentences for various. Boadu was sentenced to 21 days because his wife is pregnant while Abena, a nursing mother, was sentenced to seven days imprisonment. The tribunal, chaired by Mr S.K.A. Asiedu, remanded Bright Owusu Kwateng who pleaded not guilty in custody to re-appear on Thursday, September four. A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Atuahene Boakye Yiadom who failed to appear. It ordered that 372,000 cedis seized from the accused persons should be paid into government chest. Police chief inspector Joseph Okyere, prosecuting, told the tribunal that the management of Lotto Bingo had information that some lotto operators were operating the Bingo illegally and a team was despatched from Accra to the Kumasi metropolis to investigate the matter. Chief inspector Okyere said last Thursday, August 21, a joint operation by the police and the lotto Bingo task force arrested all the accused persons who have printed their own booklets and selling them without paying any commission to the management of Lotto Bingo. When the accused were arrested, some of the illegally printed Lotto Bingo booklets, calculators, stamp pads and the money were seized.