By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, May 17, GNA – A Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Justice William Boampong, has acquitted and discharged an estate developer brought before it for allegedly defrauding a teacher.
Emmanuel Acheampong, Managing Director of Tesprom Estates Limited was accused of taking money from the complainant under the pretext of helping her to complete a housing project but went into hiding after receiving 25 per cent of the project cost.
Though he pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false presences, he was remanded into prison custody for two weeks after which he was granted bail and asked to open his defence.
The court after a year-long trial however, acquitted and discharged the accused.
Police Inspector Kwabena Oduro-Boateng had told the court that the accused caused advertisements to be made for government employees interested in owning their own houses to contact his company for assistance.
He said the complainant, Ms. Clara Dadzie, who had started constructing a house, became interested and sought Acheampong’s company, Tesprom Estates, to finish it for her.
The prosecution said the project was to be done at a cost of GH¢ 15,000.00.
The arrangement was that the complainant would pay an initial amount of GH¢3,000.00, which was the 25 per cent of the total cost, into the company’s account, which she did.
The rest of the money, totaling GH¢12,000.00, was to be deducted in installment at source from her salary.
Acheampong, according to the prosecution, promised to begin the work, three months after the initial deposit had been paid and the job completed within six months.
The accused after receiving the money, the court was told, went into hiding for two years.
Justice Boampong, delivering judgement however, said that the accused acted as an officer of the company and not in his own capacity as an individual.
He submitted that the contract was between the Tesprom Estates Company Limited hence a criminal suit could not be initiated against the accused in his personal capacity.
The court therefore discharged him of any fraud.
The court however, stated that remedy existed for the complainant and could therefore, pursue a civil case against the company for breach of contract and seek possible damages.
GNA
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