Trader Gets Two Years For Defrauding By False Pretences

An Accra Circuit Court on Friday sentenced one Ernest Boateng, a trader, to two years imprisonment for defrauding by false pretences, one Charlotte Oppong, of an amount of GH₡13,100.00. Boateng is also to compensate the complainant, Ms Oppong with an amount of GH₡7,200.00. The presiding judge, Madam Helen Amoah, cautioned men who take undue advantage of hardworking and industrious women, to be mindful of their act, and desist from it, or else similar punishment would also befall them some day. Prosecuting, Inspector Isaac Dedoo, told the court that the complainant is a trader and resides at Mempeasem near Legon, while the convict resides at Kwabenya. He said the complainant had the zeal to own a car. In June 2012, the complainant was in her shop when she spotted a vehicle with a �for sale� inscription on it. He said the complainant then stopped the driver of the vehicle to enquire about it, but the convict who was driving the car told her he was a car dealer. Police Inspector Dedoo said the complainant told Boateng about her interest to buy a Toyota Corolla brand of car. Boateng readily told her he has cars including Toyota cars at the port, which he was in the process of clearing. Boateng demanded and collected monies amounting to GH₡31,000.00 as the total sum of the Toyota brand of car he was clearing, to sell to the complainant. The prosecution said both Boateng and Ms Oppong engaged themselves in an intimate relationship, and based on this the convict spent days living in the complainant�s house. He said Boateng assured a witness in the case, who is the complainant�s son about the coming of the car in August that same year, and that he was going to return the complainant�s money to her and give the car to her for free. Police Inspector Dedoo said the complainant waited in vain and the convict kept on giving empty promises of the arrival of the car. He told the court that about two months ago Ms Oppong terminated the relationship and several calls made to Boateng for the car proved futile. He said the complainant caused the arrest of Boateng with the assistance of some policemen, and was sent to the East Legon police station for investigation. The prosecution said the convict admitted collecting GH₡13,100.00, but denied that the monies he collected were meant for the clearing of the complainant�s car.