Former Presiding Member convicted for fraud

A former Presiding Member of the Ga East District, Abdullai Zakaria, has been fined three hundred penalty units or GH¢3,600.00 by the Osu District Magistrate Court for defrauding by false pretence.

In default, Abdullai Zakaria, who earlier pleaded not guilty, would serve 18 months imprisonment in hard labour.

Sentencing him, Mr Aboagye Tandoh, the magistrate, took into consideration the accused person’s plea for being a first offender and his preparedness to refund the $135,000 to the complainant.

Giving the facts of the case, the prosecution said the accused told the complainant, Mr Christian Clerk, Managing Director of Rotel Construction Works, that he (accused) was the owner of the land on which Crown College was located and sold the property to the complainant.

The prosecution said Mr Clerk then paid $135,000 to the accused who, later, bolted to the United States of America.

While the police was processing a warrant for the arrest and extradition of the accused to Ghana, Abdullai Zakaria returned to the country on his own and was arrested.

After investigation he was charged with the offence.

Source: GNA