Accra: An unemployed man accused of defrauding a businessman out of a piece of land valued at GHC170,000 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. Davis Nii Odai Afotey, facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and fraudulent transaction of land, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to Ghana News Agency, Afotey's alleged accomplices, Elvis Okley and Nii Bortey, also known as Azoor, remain at large. The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted Afotey bail set at GHC100,000 with three sureties, one of whom must be justified. As a condition of his bail, Afotey is required to report to the police once a week. The case has been adjourned to February 25, 2025.
Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, stated that the complainant, a resident of Adentan, encountered Afotey, who resides in Nungua Nautical, Accra, after expressing interest in a parcel of land located at East Legon Hills in January 2023. Afotey, claiming ownership of the land, agreed on a sale price of GHC170,000 with the complainant.
The complainant made an advance payment of GHC110,000 to Afotey, who promised to hand over the necessary documentation for the land. However, the site plan provided by Afotey, once verified, was found unrelated to the land in question. When confronted, Afotey claimed the land had been sold by his elder brother and promised a replacement.
Afotey introduced the complainant to the two other accused individuals, claiming they were custodians of the new land. The complainant was led to Kpone Katamanso and paid GHC26,000 for documentation and other costs. It was later discovered that this land was also sold, and the two accomplices could not be located.
A police report was filed, leading to Afotey's arrest from a hideout in Nungua. In his cautioned statement, Afotey admitted to the offense and implicated the two absconding individuals as his accomplices.
