Tailor granted 100 million cedis bail

Tema, Dec. 5, GNA - Thomas Kwaku Naka, a tailor at Ashaiman, who defrauded a man of 35 million cedis with a promise to sell to him a plot of land, has been granted 100 million cedis bail with two sureties by the Tema Circuit Court 'A'.

In the dock with him was Dora Kumatse, a trader, for aiding and abetting. She was also granted 100 million cedis bail with two sureties.

They pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on January 21, 2005. Prosecutin, Police Inspector Adolphus Otchere told the court presided over by Mr Stephen Asiedu that, sometime in January 2003, a retired civil servant decided to purchase a plot of land at Zenu, Ashaiman and contacted Dora, who took him to the site where she priced the plot for 35 million cedis.

He said the complainant was later introduced to Naka as the owner of the land and on January 24, 2003, the complainant paid 35 million cedis to Dora and she gave him a receipt that was endorsed by Naka, the landowner.

When the complainant started to develop the land, other developers, who claimed ownership of the land, prevented him. A report was made to the Ashaiman police, who arrested them and they admitted the offence.

Inspector Otchere said in a cautioned statement of Naka, he stated that he received 27 million cedis from Dora and in turn handed over 23 million cedis to the rightful owner of the land, one Eric, whom he could not trace now.