Trader in trouble over fraudulent land sale

A petty trader caught in fraudulent land sale was on Tuesday put before a Kumasi Circuit Court to answer for her crime.

Faustina Owusu Sekyere had collected cash of GH?16,000 under the pretext of selling a plot of land at Kenyase in the Kwabre East District to a student.

She pleaded not guilty and was granted GH?16,000 bail with two sureties by the court, presided over by Mr. Ekow Mensah, to reappear on November 23.

Police Chief Inspector Felix Akowuah said the parents of the student, Gideona Tweneboah, are living abroad and had engaged one Thomas Adu to assist them to purchase a parcel of land to develop into a residential property in April last year.

The man contacted the accused, who claimed she had a building plot, she wanted to sell at Twenewobaabi near Kenyase.

After some bargaining they agreed on a price of GH?16,000 and the money was paid in two instalments to Faustina through Gideona.

The accused then provided documents covering the building plot to the student.

Police Chief Inspector Akowuah said Gideona later visited the land with some labourers to start developing it only to discover another developer busily working on it.

The student confronted Faustina for an explanation but she could neither provide any reasonable answers nor refund the money paid her.