Ex-assembly member, two others jailed

A Kumasi circuit court, presided over by Justice R.C. Azuma, has jailed a former assembly member and two others for swindling a timber company through false representation.

Yaw Boahen-Kwarteng, ex-assembly member for Yonso in the Mampong Municipality, Kyerematen Brenya and Gyasi Boateng would each serve a six-month term.

Their other accomplice, Kwadwo Acheampong, is on the run.

They had presented themselves as members of the Yonso Unit Committee to Messrs Susana Amanfo and Sons Limited, a timber company operating in the area, and succeeded in collecting an amount of GH¢2,000.00 meant for the community under a “social responsibility agreement”.

The convicts pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences.

A state Attorney, Mr L.B. Otoo-Boison, told the court that the crime was committed on February 2, 2007, and at a time when there existed no Unit Committee in which they held positions.

The then committee had served out its full tenure and new elections had been fixed for March 26, that year, by the Electoral Commission.

Boahen-Kwarteng, Boateng and Brenya decided to take advantage of the situation, presented themselves as Chairman, Assistant Chairman and Secretary of the Yonso Unit Committee respectively, and convinced the company to pay the money to them.

Source: GNA