A 32-year-old man, Abdul Munaf Lawal, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison with hard labour for defrauding a victim of US$50,000, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has confirmed.

In a statement issued on Sunday, September 14, 2025, the police said Lawal collected the money from the complainant on July 27, 2023, under the pretence of converting it into the Cedi equivalent.

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“The conviction follows a case reported on July 27, 2023, in which the accused, Abdul Munaf Lawal, collected an amount of USD 50,000 from the complainant under the pretence of converting it to the Ghana Cedi equivalent. However, after receiving the funds, the accused failed to fulfil his part of the agreement and subsequently absconded,” the statement said.

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The statement added, “The accused was charged and arraigned before the Asokwa Circuit Court 1, presided over by His Honour Fred Obikyere (Esq). He initially pleaded not guilty and was remanded into police custody pending trial.”

It added that the court convicted Abdul Munaf Lawal on September 10, 2025, and sentenced him to 35 years' imprisonment with hard labour.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE:

CONVICTION AND SENTENCING OF ABDUL MUNAF LAWAL FOR DEFRAUDING BY FALSE PRETENCES pic.twitter.com/D95XDC9iE4

— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) September 14, 2025