An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced an agricultural engineer to 36 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for defrauding a businessman of GHS150,000 under the pretext of procuring a tipper truck.
Presided over by Mr. Isaac Addo, the court found 43-year-old Abraham Asudam guilty of defrauding by false pretences, despite his initial not guilty plea.
The convict allegedly collected the money from Mr. George Asudam in December 2020, claiming he could secure the vehicle through partners in Belgium.
In sentencing, the judge considered that Asudam was a first-time offender and had already spent time in custody during a deferred sentencing period, which was granted to allow him to repay an outstanding GHS30,000.
“However, notwithstanding several adjournments to enable the accused person to pay the money, he refused… The court would therefore pass a fairly deterrent sentence on the accused,” the judge ruled.
The court also ordered the restitution of GHS30,000 to the complainant.
ASP Seth Frimpong, who led the prosecution, said the convict presented fake documents and a payment receipt from a fictitious company, Power Vehicle Innovation, along with a truck chassis number, claiming the vehicle would arrive in a month.
He later cut communication, and efforts to trace him proved futile until a police report led to his arrest.
Investigations revealed that Asudam was not a licensed vehicle dealer and had fabricated all documents presented.
The prosecution recovered GHS20,000 from him, which has been retained as evidence.
