Surveyor before court for fraud

Cape Coast, April 10, GNA - A Surveyor, who allegedly duped two traders of 8.9 million cedis under the pretext of helping them to acquire two plots of land has appeared before a Cape Coast Circuit Court.

George Mensah, 53, was on Monday granted 10 million cedis bail with one surety to be justified to reappear on May two. He pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences.

In the dock with Mensah were Paul Amo Quayson, 74, unemployed and Kofi Nketsia, 68, and head of Quayson family of Kwaprow, charged with abetting and defrauding by false pretences.

They also pleaded not guilty and were granted four million cedis bail to re-appear on the same day. Prosecuting Inspector Henry Tanor alleged that in September last year, the two traders Madam Akua Kakraba and Madam Adwoa Ammisah approached Mensah to assist them to acquire plots of land at Pedu near Cape Coast.

Mensah later told them that the cost of each plot of land was 4.8 million cedis and the women readily paid 9.6 million cedis to Mensah, who in turn gave the money to Nketsia.

The Prosecutor said Akua and Adwoa started developing the land but were asked to stop work by some people, who claimed the said land, as result the women contacted the three men but they could not offer any explanation.

They, therefore, reported the matter to the Police and the accused persons were arrested and during investigation they were found to have committed the offence. Mensah told the court that five million cedis out of the amount has been paid to the Police, at this juncture Mr Justice Tom Bentil, the presiding judge, asked the Police to hand over the money to the court registrar.