The Circuit Court in Accra has sentenced a 43-year-old Agricultural Engineer, Abraham Asudam, to 36 months in prison for defrauding a relative of GH¢150,000 under false pretences in a fraudulent vehicle import scheme.
The conviction was handed down by His Honour Judge Isaac Addo after a full criminal trial which began in 2024. Asudam was found guilty under Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which deals with defrauding by false pretence.
Prosecution led by ASP Maxwell Frimpong, assisted by ASP Amoah, told the court that the offence occurred in December 2020. The complainant, George Asudam, a businessman based in Navrongo in the Upper East Region, was deceived by the accused—his own relative—into paying GH¢150,000.00 for the supposed purchase of a tipper truck.
According to the prosecution, Abraham Asudam falsely presented himself as a vehicle dealer with international links and assured the complainant he could secure a tipper truck from Belgium through his alleged business associates.
Relying on this assurance, George Asudam transferred the money to the accused’s GCB Bank account. The accused later issued a receipt from a fictitious company—Power Vehicle Innovation Company (PVI)—listing a fabricated chassis number (WDSB620271K163163) and promised the truck would arrive in Ghana within a month.
However, the vehicle was never delivered. Efforts by the complainant to contact the accused proved futile, as Abraham went into hiding and severed all communication. Subsequent investigations revealed that he had no ties to any legitimate vehicle import company and that all documents he provided were forged.
The accused was later arrested following a formal police complaint. Investigators recovered GH¢20,000.00, which was kept for evidentiary purposes.
In sentencing, Judge Addo noted that although Asudam was a first-time offender and had spent time in custody pending trial, he failed to make any meaningful restitution.
The court had granted him multiple adjournments to repay the outstanding balance of GH¢30,000.00, but he failed to honour the directive.
“In the interest of justice and deterrence, the court finds it necessary to impose a custodial sentence,” the judge ruled.
Asudam was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and ordered to refund the outstanding GH¢30,000.00 to the complainant.
