Defrauding by False Pretences

Jewel Ocquaye Prempeh, a queen mother who was previously arraigned for a recruitment scam, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court, facing yet another case of recruitment fraud. Both cases were put before the Court. In the first case, Jewel was charged with defrauding by false pretenses after collecting GHS107,000 from 15 applicants under the guise of enlisting them in State Security Agencies, COCOBOD, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Forestry Commission and the Narcotics Control Commission. In the second case, she is accused of collecting GHS52,000 from four applicants under the pretext of enlisting them in the Bank of Ghana, Forestry Commission, COCOBOD, and State Security Agencies. Prempeh, a queen mother of the Ayite Kortor Community, has denied the charges. The court presided over by Mr Isaac Oheneba Kufour has admitted her to bail in the sum of GHS150,000 and GHS50,000 respectively in the two separate cases. Prempeh, who had no legal representation, is expected to reappear on March 14. She was put before another Circuit Court on January 30, 2024, in an GHS93,000 alleged enlistment fraud case. The prosecution led by Chief Inspector John Gohoho in the first case said the complainant was Mohammed Ziblim, a supervisor at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The accused person resides in Madina, Accra. In 2021, Prempeh told the complainant about openings in the Ghana Police, Immigration, Audit Service, Fire Service, CCOCOBOD, Bank of Ghana, SSNIT, and Narcotics Control Commission. According to Chief Inspector Gohoho, Prempeh also indicated during her interaction with the complainant that she had high-profile people working in the seat of government, particularly the Chief of Staff’s office. The prosecution said that the complainant expressed interest after interacting with Prempeh. Prempeh then provided the complainant with her account information at the Mamprobi branch of the Fidelity Bank for payment before beginning the enlistment process. On April 11, 2022, the complainant went to deposit GHS44,000 cash into Prempeh’s bank account as an initial payment. The prosecution said Prempeh collected soft copies of Certificates and application forms of the 15 applicants to begin the process. It stated that the complainant paid Prempeh a further GHS63,000 on the same day, for a total of GHS107,000. According to the prosecutor, after collecting the money, Prempeh promised to find positions for the 15 applicants within two months but failed. All efforts to contact Prempeh proved impossible, thus a report was made to the police. On October 18, 2023, Prempeh was arrested and in her investigation caution statement she admitted collecting the said money from the complainant to secure jobs for the applicants but failed. In the second case, Prempeh is accused of collecting GHS52,000 from one Siisu Baharu, a businessman, to secure jobs for four applicants. The complainant allegedly deposited GHS24,000, GHS20,000 and GHS8,000 to a bank account and Prempeh’s mobile money account. She, however, failed to secure jobs for the four applicants. By Joyce Danso, GNA Accra, Feb. 16

A queen mother, Jewel Oquaye Prempeh, who allegedly collected GH₵93,000 to enlist 15 applicants into Ghana’s security Services and other institutions but failed, has been arraigned. Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, Jewel pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences. She, however, told the Court that she was making frantic efforts to refund the money to the complainant. The court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah admitted Jewel to bail in the sum of GH₵100,000 with one surety who must be a Ghanaian citizen. The court has adjourned the matter to February 14, 2024. Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Daniel Danku did not oppose to the bail but prayed the court that the bail conditions should compel accused person‘s attendance to court. Prosecution said the complainant Osman Zakari was a businessman and a resident of Abeka, Accra. It said the accused person is the queen mother of Ayite Kortor Community and a resident of Madina, Accra. The prosecutor said in 2021, the accused person informed the complainant about “a recruitment opportunity slots she had in Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Audit Service, Ghana National Fire Service, COCOBOD, Bank of Ghana, SSNIT and Narcotics Control Board. It said the accused person said she could obtain the recruitment slots because “she has high profile personalities at the seat of government, specifically in the office of the Chief of Staff. The prosecution said the complainant showed interest after having a conversation with the accused person and given him assurances. The prosecutor told the court that a week later, Jewel collected cash in the sum of GH₵93,000, as the initial payment from the complainant through her (complainant’s) MTN mobile money wallet to begin the process. Again, the Prosecution said Jewel collected 15 applicant’s soft copies of certificates and application forms as part of the job requirement. Prosecution said Jewel, after receiving the money, promised the 15 applicants of the jobs within two months but failed. Jewel, the prosecutor said, went into hiding and all efforts by the complainant to reach him proved unsuccessful. A report was made to the Police and Jewel was arrested and in her investigation caution statement, she admitted collecting the money from the complainant to secure jobs for the complainant’s applicants but failed. myjoyonline.com

Accra, Jan. 30, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court has convicted a 53-year-old fashion designer who defrauded a teacher of GHC20,000.00 under the pretext of enlisting him into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). Angelina Koranteng admitted conspiring with Festus Dzakpasu Walas, 44, mason, to dupe Mr Mileba Godwin and was convicted on her own plea, but sentence was deferred to February 5, 2024. However, Walas, her alleged accomplice denied both offences and remanded into Police custody to return to the Court on February 5, 2024. Police Chief Inspector Eric Pobee told the Court presided over by Mrs Kizita Naa Kowa Quarshie that Mr Mileba, the teacher and complainant resided at Dzodze in the Volta Region. He said Angelina, the convict and Walas were residents of Tseaddo, La-Accra. In April, 2023, the complainant told a friend of his desire to be a senior military officer, thus, the friend introduced him to Walas for assistance, the prosecution told the Court. It said Walas instructed the complainant to meet him at the 37 Military Hospital with the GH¢ 20,000.00 being the cost of the enlistment processing. The Court heard that on April 20, 2023, the complainant met both Angelina and Walas at 37 Military Hospital, where Walas was introduced to the complainant by Angelina as the one who was going to assist the complainant to be enlisted into GAF. Thereafter, the convict and the accused demanded and collected GH¢ 20,000.00 from the complainant, the prosecution said. It said the two after collecting the money went into hiding and on November 10, 2023, a formal complaint was lodged with the Cantonments Police for Investigation. Angelina and Walas were later arrested, and they admitted the offences in their cautioned statements. During investigations, she refunded GHC4,000.00 whilst Walas refunded GH¢ 1,700.00, the Court was told. After investigations they were charged with the offences and put before court. By Gifty Amofa GNA