Trader jailed 10 years over GH¢198,000 Honda CR-V fraud

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Bismark Obeng, a trader, to 10 years imprisonment for defrauding a draughtsman of GH¢198,000 under the pretext of selling him a 2020-model Honda CR-V 4×4.

Prosecutors said Obeng conspired with Gideon Wiafe and one Owusu (both at large) to perpetrate the fraud. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a full trial on two counts — conspiracy to defraud and defrauding by false pretences.

The court, presided over by Her Honour [name not given in your text], sentenced him to 10 years on each count, to run concurrently, and further ordered him to pay GH¢70,000 restitution to the victim.

On November 8, 2022, complainant Mawulolo Ametame spotted an online ad for the unregistered Honda CR-V priced at GH¢198,000 on Jiiji.com.

He contacted Obeng, who posed as the vehicle owner’s cousin.

On November 10, 2022, Mawulolo and his brother Mawunyemo met Obeng at Cal Bank, Madina branch. Obeng failed to produce the vehicle documents but convinced them to proceed.

Mawulolo handed GH¢198,000 in cash to Obeng and accomplice Wiafe during the supposed vehicle inspection — after which the pair vanished.

The complainant later petitioned the CID Headquarters, leading to Obeng’s arrest on January 26, 2023 at Amansaman-Fise while attempting to defraud another victim with the same vehicle.

During interrogation, Obeng admitted to the fraud and revealed he had received GH¢20,000 as his share.

A January 31, 2023 identification parade at CID Headquarters confirmed Obeng as the fraudster.

The prosecution, led by ASP Seth Frimpong, told the court that the accused acted with clear malice and had a track record of similar fraudulent conduct.