A 48-year-old businessman, Jennings Tetteh Cole, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday, accused of defrauding 18 individuals seeking rental accommodation.
Jennings faces 18 counts of defrauding by false pretenses but has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The accused allegedly collected sums ranging from GHC3,000 to GHC9,200 from each complainant, amounting to over GHC100,000 in total.
Despite promising to refund the money, Jennings has yet to return any funds, according to Chief Inspector Ramata Asumah, who is prosecuting the case.
The court, presided over by Mr. Bright Samuel Acquah, granted Jennings bail in the sum of GHC150,000 and instructed the prosecution to file their disclosures.
The case has been adjourned to January 20, 2025.
Chief Inspector Asumah informed the court that the complainants, who reside in various parts of Accra, were seeking rental accommodation when they encountered Jennings.
He had advertised a single dilapidated room for rent on the Jiji trading app.
Between October 21, 2024, and December 7, 2024, the accused allegedly collected money from the complainants under the pretext of renovating the room and renting it out to them.
However, Jennings failed to honor his promise and reportedly went into hiding after receiving the funds.
On December 8, 2024, some of the complainants met and discovered that Jennings had rented the same room to all of them.
Realizing the scam, they reported the matter to the Nungua Police, which led to his arrest.
During police questioning, Jennings admitted to the offense in his caution statement.
The prosecution also revealed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend an accomplice believed to have aided Jennings in the fraudulent scheme.
