Two traders jailed eight years for fraud

Cape Coast, July 13, GNA - Two elderly women who defrauded a trader at Assin Adubiase of 4.5 million cedis, were on Wednesday sentenced to four years imprisonment each by a circuit court at Cape Coast. Afua Donkor, 54 and Minawo Amuzu Soamotor, 63, both traders, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit crime and fraud were also ordered to refund the monies they collected from their victim. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo, told the court presided over by Mr Mustapha Logoh that the women were related and live at Agona Swedru and Aflao, respectively.

He said the two, were known fraudsters and that their modus operandi was that Donkor would sell a basket of fish to an unsuspecting costumer and leave the basket with the explanation that she would go for it later.

He said Soamotor, would then turn up, claim ownership of the basket and accuse the said customer, of having stolen her fish, thereby leaving their unsuspecting victims no options than to pay twice for the same basket of fish, amidst threats to report them (victims) to the police. Chief Inspector Azasoo said in February this year, one Madam Ama Oduraa, a trader at Assin Adubiase, a fishmonger also fell victim to the two women when she paid 4.5 million cedis for a basket of fish, but their luck ran out on July 6, when they tried to use the same tricks on a trader who had already heard of Madam Oduraa's case and the two were arrested.

Passing sentence, Mr Logoh expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the two elderly women whom he said should have been a source of advice for the young.

The court also sentenced Soamotor, to an additional two years in prison when she was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to stealing a basket of locally made soap 'alata samina', from the GPRTU offices at Mankessim on June 22.