Agbesi Nutsu
A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Agbesi Nutsu, has been dragged before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a foreigner to the tune of GH¢137,000.
The vociferous member of the NDC communications team, together with three other persons, Alfred Obeng Mensah, Benjamin Nii Quarshie Danso and Benjamin Nortey Oklah, according to police, between January 2014 and August 2017, defrauded the businessman under the pretext of securing a land for him at East Legon in Accra.
They, however, failed to deliver on their promises and as well failed to refund the complainant’s money.
The four accused persons are before the court for four counts of defrauding by false pretenses and one count of conspiracy to commit crime.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by the court, presided over by Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye.
Agbesi Nustu was granted bail in the sum of GH¢70,000 with three sureties, Alfred Obeng Mensah was granted bail in the sum of GH¢90,000 with four sureties, while Benjamin Nii Quarshie Danso’s bail sum is GH¢30,000 with two sureties and that of Benjamin Nortey Oklah is GH¢10,000 with one surety.
They will reappear on April 25, 2018.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Emmanuel Haligah, told the court that the complainant, Amani Assie Gervais, Chief Executive Officer of Basic Security in 2014 needed a land at East Legon to open a restaurant and recreational centre.
He said Agbesi Nutsu and Alfred Obeng Mensah, who works at the Lands Commission, approached the complainant and told him that they could sell and regularize a land for him at East Legon after leading him to the land.
He told the court that the NDC communicator collected a cash amount of GH¢50,000 from the complainant while his accomplice, Alfred also took GH¢65,000 from the complainant for the land and gave him a receipt to that effect.
Chief Inspector Haligah stated that the two, however, could not provide the complainant any documents pertaining to the land, but rather asked him to proceed to work on it whilst waiting for the documents.
He said the complainant in 2017 started working on the land but was approached by some people who claimed ownership of the land.
The prosecutor stated that Benjamin Nii Quarshie Danso then approached the complainant assuring him that he could get the claimants who were occupying the land illegally off the land at a fee of GH¢17,000.
The complainant then made an initial payment of GH¢15,000 and two further payments of GH¢1,000 each to the accused person.
Chief Inspector Haligah told the court that Benjamin Nortey Oklah also collected an amount of GH¢5,000 from the complainant under the pretext of driving away the illegal occupants of the land but also failed to do so.
He said a complaint was made and the accused persons were arrested, adding that they admitted taking the money in their caution statements and promised to pay it back but all failed to do so.
By Gibril Abdul Razak