A 50-year-old unemployed woman has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour by the Tarkwa District Court Two for defrauding seven people.
The convict, Benedicta Kwakye, also known as Esi Mary, pleaded guilty to seven counts of defrauding by false pretence. Presiding Judge Isaac Osei Asare sentenced her to two years on each count, to run concurrently.
Prosecution’s Case
Police Sergeant Adwoa Yeboah told the court that the main complainant, Rebecca Kwofie, a trader residing at Cyanide, a suburb of Tarkwa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, was searching for a room to rent in April 2025.
On April 18, Benedicta approached her, claiming she had a room available for GH¢70 per month. The complainant expressed interest, and Benedicta showed her a room in her house, presenting it as available for rent. She then collected GH¢2,500 as a three-year advance.
Benedicta promised to hand over the keys within three weeks after preparing the room, but failed to do so. The complainant made several follow-ups. On one visit, she encountered the landlord, who revealed that the room was already occupied by someone who had travelled.
When confronted, Benedicta ignored repeated demands for a refund.
On July 8, 2025, the complainant learned that Benedicta was in custody at the Tarkwa Central Police Station for a similar offence. She identified her as the person who had defrauded her and lodged a formal complaint.
Further police investigations revealed that Benedicta had defrauded six additional victims using the same room as bait. She later claimed that she invested the money she collected into trading, but alleged it was stolen from her during a trip to Accra to buy goods.
⚖️ Sentence: Two years in prison with hard labour, running concurrently on all seven counts.
Source: GNA
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