Pastor In Court For Fraud

Stories by Helena Selby

A pastor is standing trial at an Accra circuit court for allegedly defrauding a group of people, of a total sum of GH¢42,595, under the pretext of taking them abroad for missionary work.

The accused person, Paul Mavil Anane, allegedly convinced the group of six people that when the said money is given to him, he could help them go on missionary work in Canada and Australia.

He was, however, arrested by the police, after the group realised he was defrauding them. He pleaded not guilty to six counts of defrauding by false pretense, contrary to section 131 of act 29/60, before the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh.

Paul Mavil Anane was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties, one to be justified, and is expected to re-appear before the court on March 12, 2013.

The facts of the  case are that in 2011, the accused person recruited the first and second complainant under the pretext of sending them to Australia as missionaries, and succeeded in collecting a cash sum of GH¢6,900 from them, but failed to honour his promise.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, told the court that a report was made to the police, and the accused person arrested.

He said while the accused person was in custody, the rest of the complainants went to the station and identified him as the person who took a total sum of GH¢35,695 under the pretext of also taking them to Canada for missionary work, but bolted after taking the money.

According to him, the accused person admitted the offence in his caution statement, and pleaded with the police to give him time to refund the money, but could not do so.

In another development, an Accra circuit court has remanded into custody a 35-year-old trader for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a four-year-old girl.

Amokwei Quaye allegedly lured the victim into a nearby bush and had sex with her when she was on her way to buy food.

The accused person was arrested after the victim disclosed the incident to a Good Samaritan.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement contrary to section 101 of act 29/60, as amended by section 11 of act 29/60, when he appeared before the court presided over by Ms Sedina Abgemeva.

The Prosecutor, ASP Sarah Acquah, narrating the facts of the case, indicated that on February 2013, the complainant bought some rice for the victim to eat, but the victim refused claiming the food was insufficient.

She said a tenant in the house then gave the victim money to go and buy the rice herself, and the victim showed the money to her grandmother before going out to buy the rice at about 6:30 p.m. “The complainant waited for the victim, but she was not forthcoming, so began searching for her. However, at about 8:10 p.m., a Good Samaritan found the victim coming out of a nearby bush crying, and when she was questioned, she indicated that the accused person lured her into the bush and had sex with her,” the Prosecutor told the court.

ASP Acquah further noted that a report was made to the police and a medical form issued to the victim to be sent to the hospital for examination, treatment and a report.

According to her, the endorsed medical form was later received, indicating that the victim had indeed been defiled.

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