A police office, General Sergeant Kennedy Asomani, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly collecting GH¢100,000 from forty-four persons under the pretext of enlisting them into the Ghana Police Service.
He is facing four counts of defrauding by false pretences; but he denied the charges when his plea was taken in Twi language.
The court presided over by Mrs. Priscilla Dapaah Mireku, admitted him to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one to be justified.
Asomani has since refunded GH¢33,000 out of the amount in open court.
Asomani is expected to reappear on June 8.
Defense Counsel, Mr Benjamin Afari prayed the court to admit his client to bail as he was not a flight risk and that his client would not interfere in police investigations.
According to Mr Afari, Asomani had credible persons who would stand as sureties for him, adding that the accused had monetized some of his property to defray the cost.
Defense counsel said when remanded into custody, the accused would not be able to sell those properties.
Chief Inspector Gohoho informed the court that the Police had so far retrieved GH¢33,000 from the accused person.
According to the Prosecution, the complainants are John Takyi, a books seller; Eric Affum Apraku, a public servant; Kissy Patterson, a fire officer and Daniel Oppong, a police civilian employee.
Prosecution said in 2018 and 2019, the accused person went round introducing himself to a number of people including the four complainants that he was enlisting people into the Ghana Police Service through protocol links.
According to prosecution, Asomani also told the complainants that he could help any of their relatives who wanted to be enlisted into the Ghana Police Service.
Based on the assurance of the accused persons, Jasper Takyi one of the complainants, parted with GH¢62,500 on behalf of 25 people.
Prosecution said the accused collected GH¢8,500 from the Affum, the second complainant and GH¢20,000 from the Patterson and later Asomani collected GH¢6,500 from Oppong, the fourth complainant, under the pretext that he was going to recruit their wards into the Ghana Police Service.
Prosecution said Asomani could not honour his promise and went into hiding.
On April 29, this year, Asomani was arrested by the complainants from his hideout at Kanda, Accra and handed over to the Police at Cantonments for further investigations.
Source: Graphic Online
