An unemployed man, who claimed to be well-connected and succeeded in duping two people of an amount of GHȼ20,000 under the guise of recruiting their unemployed children into the security services – police, military and customs service, has found himself in trouble with the law.
Stephen Oduro was on Tuesday put before the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Circuit Court, presided over by Madam Comfort Tasiame, to answer a charge of defrauding by false pretenses.
He pleaded not guilty to the crime and was granted a GHȼ20,000 bail with two sureties, one to be justified.
He was ordered to make the next appearance on Tuesday, August 4.
Police Chief Inspector Felix Akowuah told the court that the accused met one of the victims, Ms. Dorcas Atuahene, in July of last year, at a friend’s house where he boasted that he had links with a top police officer and could get people enlisted into the police and the other two security services.
The woman fell for the trap and expressed interest, and later informed the other victim, Asiedu Marfo.
Oduro demanded and was paid GHȼ11,000 by Marfo whilst Dorcas parted with GHȼ9,000.
He additionally collected the birth certificates, results slips and passport pictures of the prospective applicants, after which he assured the victims that the applicants would be invited to undergo medical examination within one month.
But after one month, there was no trace of the accused and that heightened the suspicion of Asiedu and Dorcas.
They rushed to make a formal report to the police on July 7, when they heard of his arrest for a similar offence.
Oduro in his caution statement confessed to taking the money but said he gave it to one Seth Ampadu to facilitate the recruitment.
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Source: GNA