Court jails businessman 10 years for GH¢3million fraud

A Circuit Court in Accra has sentenced a businessman to 10 years in prison for defrauding a businesswoman of GH¢3 million.

Alhaji Fareed Amin Yakubu, 38, was found guilty on charges of defrauding by false pretences and issuing false cheques after a full trial.

The case was presided over by Justice Bright Samuel Acquah, a High Court judge sitting with additional responsibility as a Circuit Court judge.

Yakubu, who initially pleaded not guilty, was tried and convicted after the court evaluated evidence presented by the prosecution.

In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of GH¢12,000 for issuing false cheques. In default of payment, he will serve an additional two years in prison. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Court records show that the trial was conducted in absentia after the accused jumped bail and failed to appear before the court.

Under Article 19(3)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, courts are permitted to proceed with trials if an accused person refuses or fails to attend proceedings.

According to the prosecution, Yakubu collected GH¢3 million from the complainant, Madam Darling Tuffour, in April 2021 under the pretext of investing the money in an oil business.

He allegedly assured the complainant that the investment would yield returns and that the principal amount would be repaid within an agreed period.

However, the prosecution told the court that the convict failed to honour his promise and instead issued cheques that were later dishonoured.

On May 18, 2021, Yakubu issued a cheque for GH¢2,100,000 drawn on Stanbic Bank, which was returned due to insufficient funds.

Subsequently, on September 24, 2021, he issued another cheque for GH¢1,050,000 drawn on First Atlantic Bank. This cheque was also dishonoured.

Following the failed transactions, the complainant, who resides at East Legon in Accra, reported the matter to the police after several attempts to retrieve her money proved unsuccessful.

Investigations were launched, but efforts to locate the accused initially failed, as he could not be traced.

The prosecution indicated that Yakubu later turned himself in to the police after his details were circulated in the media.

The court, after reviewing the evidence, concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to his conviction and sentencing.