Fake soldier in trouble with the law

A 22-year-old mechanic who allegedly posed as a soldier and fleeced six people of a total of GH¢9,450.00 under the pretext of getting them enlisted into the Ghana Police Service has been remanded into prison custody.

Ebenezer Baffour Asamoah pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonation and fraud. He would re-appear on Wednesday, July 18.

His accomplice, Michael Oppong, alias “Osofo” is on the run and the police have mounted a search for him.

Police Chief Inspector James Amekah told the court presided over by Justice D.W.P Amedior that the victims, Frank Akwasi Aning, Kwaku Baffour, Solomon Mensah, Regina Foriwaah, Portia Acheampong and Dorcas Mensah, live in different parts of the Ashanti Region.

The accused has been holding himself as a soldier with the Fourth Infantry Battalion (4BN) in Kumasi.

About a year ago, Foriwaah and Portia were introduced to Asamoah by a pastor of their church as a military officer who could aid them to join the police service.

The accused promised to get them enlisted and succeeded in swindling the two together with the four others of their monies, which ranged between GH¢1,200.00 and GH¢2,500.00.

The prosecution said Asamoah went into hiding after collecting the money.

He ran out of luck on July 5, when one of the victims spotted him at Bohyen in Kumasi and caused his arrest. The others also made formal reports to the police.

The accused admitted the offence in his caution statement.**