A 40-year-old businessman accused of defrauding a retired judge of GHȼ300,000 under the pretext of securing him a plot of land has been granted bail by the Amasaman Circuit Court.
Charles Amoateng was granted a GHȼ200,000 bail and is required to provide two sureties. The court, presided over by Ms. Enid Marful-Sau, ordered that the sureties deposit valid national identity cards with the Court’s Registry.
Amoateng is expected to reappear in court on April 2, 2025.
Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Faustina Asamoah said Justice Fred Kwesi Awuah, the complainant, is a retired High Court Judge residing at Sarpeiman near Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region.
According to the prosecution, in December 2023, the complainant sought to purchase a piece of land and was introduced to Amoateng, a businessman involved in estate development.
Justice Awuah and the individual who introduced him to Amoateng met with the accused, who took them to a piece of land at Abor Village near Amasaman. The complainant expressed interest and was asked to pay GHȼ400,000.
He made an initial payment of GHȼ300,000, leaving a balance of GHȼ100,000 to be paid after receiving the land documents.
However, upon visiting the site, he discovered that someone else was already developing the land. When confronted, Amoateng claimed that the family had a dispute over the land, which was being resolved in court.
Justice Awuah later demanded a refund, rejecting Amoateng’s offer of an alternative plot. Amoateng refunded only GHȼ100,000, leaving a balance of GHȼ200,000 unpaid.
On November 19, 2024, the complainant lodged a formal complaint with the Amasaman Divisional CID, leading to Amoateng’s arrest.
In his caution statement, Amoateng admitted to the offence and promised to refund the remaining amount but failed to do so.
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