Trickster Collapses In Court
A confidence trickster, Reuben Dzormeku, had the shock of his life and collapsed after being handed a seven-year jail sentence by the Hohoe Circuit Court.
The convict akpeteshie distiller who was revived was jailed after being found guilty of defrauding by false pretence.
He pleaded not guilty to the offence but the court, presided over by Mr Samuel Sarpong-Appiah found him guilty and sentenced him accordingly.
An accomplice, Abdul Rahman, a herbalist who has been charged with aiding and abetting to defraud by false pretence, is however, awaiting sentence.
According to ASP Douglas Kuma, Dzormeku and Rahman who met regularly since Dzormeku's wife fell ill in 2004, discussed strategies to dupe people — under the pretence of giving them ¢500 million from an overseas non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The prosecutor said Dzormeku got into contact with Rahman when he took his wife, Peace Kumah Mahunu, for treatment.
After curing Peace of her ailment in two days, Rahman told Dzormeku that he knew an NGO which could assist him with a grant of ¢500 million.
Dzormeku showed interest, so he was told the conditions of registration to become a member and he paid ¢675,000 for registration.
After some time, Dzormeku followed up to find out when he would receive the money. Rahman's response was that though Dzormeku had qualified for the grant, he needed a group of 10 people each paying ¢10 million to qualify for the grant.
Dzormeku went to convince the three complainants to join the group and they contributed the amount.
The complainants in the case are Helen Adomidie who paid ¢22.7 million, Dorin Mercy Adzotor, ¢10 million and Christopher Biaku, 14.5 million, all totalling ¢47.2 million.
Rahman had however denied any knowledge of the amount.
According to the police, Rahman had refunded ¢11 million to the court and is awaiting sentence.
Story by Emmanuel Modey