Tribunal judge swindled

A Kumasi-based swindler, Kwadwo Osei, who poses as a Captain in the Ghana Armed Forces ran out of luck as his attempt to swindle a judge of eight million cedis has landed him in the full grips of the law.

Osei, is now standing trial at a Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Vincent Carl Senu.

The court heard that the complainant in the case, the chairman of the Ashanti New Town Public Tribunal, got to know Osei, who resides at Old Suame, a suburb of Kumasi, last year.

According to the prosecutor, Osei told the judge (name withheld) that he could use his influence to purchase one of confiscated Benz saloon cars at the Castle for him.

Osei then collected six hundred thousand cedis from the judge under the pretext of processing some papers for the purchase of the car, which he said was going for 12 million cedis.

He later went to the judge to demand 7.4 million cedis, which he said was to pay for part of the cost of the car at the castle, saying that he collect an additional six million cedis after delivery of the car.

The prosecutor told the court that after some time the accused person came back to the judge to demand the balance without bringing the car.

According to the prosecution, this made the judge suspicious and he reported the matter to the police who subsequently chased the accused person to his hideout and arrested him. Investigations conducted on Osei proved that he has been regularly defrauded people.

The prosecution said Osei in a similar instance defrauded two women of eight million cedis and promised to help them to travel to USA, about three months ago.

Osei was said to have posed as an officer in the Ghana Armed Forces and told the victims that he would send them to the US on Peace-keeping Mission as his wife and daughter.

According to the prosecutor, when Osei was granted bail to appear again before court in that case, he failed to show up. The court therefore remanded him in police custody to re-appear at a later date.