Businessman, driver jailed over fake facebook

A businessman who conspired with a driver to create a facebook and an e-mail accounts in the name of Dr Stephen K. Opuni, former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board to collect monies from people under the pretext of securing jobs have been sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

The two, Christian Obeng aka Borga the businessman was sentenced to five years imprisonment while Latif Apulala aka Davido a driver was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The court presided over by Mrs Ruby Naa Adjeley Quaison ordered the two convicts  to also sign bonds to be of good behaviour  for two years in default  serve a year jail term each.

The two were sentenced after the court had found them guilty on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime.

Obeng was charged with impersonation.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Adjei‘s told the court that Obeng resides at Akyeam Tafo while Apulala lives at Ofankor Seven Days.

On February 26, last year, a witness in the case reported to the Police that he had seen a facebook profile of Stephen K Opuni former CEO of Ghana Cocoa Board which he suspected to be fraudulent.

Prosecution the witness further reported that Obeng had impersonated Dr Opuni and he suspected that Obeng was in the process of defrauding unsuspecting persons under the pretext of securing them jobs with COCOBOD.

When Dr Opuni was contacted he said that he knew nothing about the said account, adding that he has never had a facebook account.

According to the DSP Adjei, the witness further indicated to the Police that Obeng in a facebook conversation stated helping the witness to secure a job with COCOBOD at the cost of GHȼ4,000.00.

Prosecution said Obeng directed the witness to meet his messenger at Achimota Mile Seven to deliver his application as well as GHȼ3,500.00 to facilitate the process.

Apulala was arrested when he turned up to meet the witness and collect the money and application, ASP Adjei said.

Obeng asked Apulala to go to his house with the money and he would come and collect it.

Four hours later, Obeng showed up to collect the said money and he was also arrested.

In Obeng’s caution statement he admitted creating a facebook and e-mail accounts and “stephenopuni43@gmailcom” in the name of the CEO of COCOBOD to collect monies from people.

In the case of Apulala he denied his involvement, saying he was only asked by Obeng to collect money and particulars of the witness.

Source: GNA