Fake contractor remanded for fraud

Techiman (B/A) June 19, GNA- The Techiman circuit court on Friday remanded a fake electrical contractor who defrauded about 250 landlords at Forikrom, near Techiman for two weeks.

The court ordered the accused, Augustine Amoako, who pleaded guilty to a charge of defrauding by false pretences to re-appear on June 29. Police Chief Inspector Sampson Jebuni, told the court that Amoako last December arrived at Forikrom and introduced himself to Mr. Krobea Asante, unit committee chairman as a sub-contractor engaged to connect power service wires to homes in the town.

Amoako asked all households to pay 20,000 cedis each for meter boards and the provision of meters and succeeded in collecting a total of five million cedis from 250 homes between December 2003 and April 2004.

Chief Inspector Jebuni said the accused also collected various sums of money ranging between 100,000 cedis and 150,000 cedis from landlords who intended wiring their houses.

The actual electrical contractor designated to undertake the electrification project, Degab Construction of Sunyani also came to Forikrom to carry out the work he was challenged by Mr Asante, but he proved his identity.

The prosecutor said it was also found that Amoako had also defrauded residents of Atrensu, Ayeasu and Tumeniso in the area and he was arrested. 19 June 04