The
Juaso Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Fredrick Tetteh, has
sentenced a man, who posed as a national security operative and
succeeded in swindling three people of cash totaling GH¢43,900 to 16
years imprisonment
Yussif Salifu, 44, and unemployed, was charged with six counts of defrauding by false pretences, but he pleaded not guilty.
The convict, in the run up to the 2012 general polls, had gone to
the Asante-Akim South District, where he presented himself as an officer
of the national security assigned to the area to carry out special
duties.
Police Detective Inspector
Birikorang Peasah said Salifu spent a whole month working with the
constituency executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)
and it was during that period that he managed to convince the victims
that he could assist them to buy vehicles on auction, get them enlisted
into the military and secure Canadian visa for them.
He told the court that Simon Nyarko, one of those who fell for the
bait, paid GH¢27,400 to the convict towards the purchase of three seized
cars and recruitment of three of his siblings into the Ghana Armed
Forces.
Two other persons, Nana Kwadwo
Appiah-Kubi and Alex Ohemeng between them, let go of GH¢16,500 for a
Canadian visa and a Ford Escape vehicle, which were never delivered.
Salifu after collecting the money went into hiding and a formal
report made to the police tracked him down to Odobeng in the Central
Region and he was arrested.
The prosecution said he confessed to the crime in his caution statement.
