The Dansoman Circuit Court has granted bail totaling GH¢2.6 million to Mawuyiram Emmanuel Kojo Asai, a 43-year-old National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) employee, and Jonas Darpoh, a 34-year-old businessman, for allegedly defrauding a Chinese national of GH¢1,240,000 in a land transaction.
The two accused pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretences under Sections 23(1) and 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Presiding over the case, Judge Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit granted each accused bail of GH¢1,300,000, with stringent conditions.
The accused must provide three sureties each, two of whom must be public servants earning at least GH¢10,000 monthly, while the third must present title deeds equivalent to the bail amount.
Additionally, the accused are required to deposit their Ghana Cards at the Court Registry and report weekly to the police station.
The court has referred the case to the Attorney General for legal advice due to the significant financial loss involved.
Prosecution’s Case
Chief Inspector Nuarko, representing the prosecution, opposed the bail application, arguing that the accused had not cooperated during investigations.
He stated that after being granted police inquiry bail, the accused failed to report to the police, necessitating criminal summons to secure their appearance in court.
The prosecution also raised concerns that the accused might abscond, posing a flight risk.
The complainant, Beipeng Lei, a Chinese national residing in Weija, had purchased 11.46 acres of land in Dawhenya from Jonas Darpoh between 2021 and 2024 for GH¢1,240,000.
Payments were made in instalments, but the accused later informed the complainant of ownership disputes over the land and advised him not to access it.
Suspicious of foul play, the complainant reported the matter to the police on September 19, 2024.
Investigations revealed that the accused had received the full payment for the land but failed to provide valid documentation.
Despite promises to produce the necessary documents by October 4, 2024, they failed to do so.
Further investigations confirmed that the land sold to the complainant was owned by a third party.
Defense Counsel Edwin Osei Boateng left the decision on bail to the court’s discretion, assuring that the accused would comply with all bail conditions.
The case has been adjourned to April 23, 2025, to allow further investigations and for the Attorney General to provide legal advice.
Source: myrepubliconline.com