An Accra Circuit Court has on Monday convicted a businesswoman in her 50’s for defrauding a lady pastor of GHC487,192.00 under the pretext of securing her 150 parcels of land.
Elizabeth Borquaye pleaded not guilty to fraudulent transaction and defrauding by false pretense but she was found guilty after trial.
However, sentence was deferred and Borquaye has been remanded into prison custody to reappear for sentencing on June 11.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Adjei told the Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh that Pastor Susan Hanson, the prosecution witness resides at Oyarifa whilst Borquaye resides at Nungua all suburbs of Accra.
He said in February 2010, Pastor Hanson acquired 150 plots of land at Ashiyie from the convict and made part payment of GHC487,192.00 through the convict’s Ghana Commercial Bank, Fidelity and Pro-credit accounts.
The convict in return, gave the Pastor an indenture and site plan covering the lands.
ASP Adjei said when the complainant started developing the land she was prevented by the Lakeside Estate Company who claimed ownership.
Borquaye then relocated the complainant to a different parcel of land at Oyibi and that also came out that the convict did not own it.
Prosecution said, the Pastor then reported the convict to the Nungua Traditional Council which set-up an arbitration committee before which she confessed that the two lands did not belong to her.
Armed with this information, the Pastor reported the matter to the Police on December 7, 2015, leading to the arrest of Borquaye.
Police further probe at the Lands Commission revealed that the first parcels of land belonged to the Lakeside Estate company and others.
In her caution statement, Borquaye admitted that the lands did not belong to her.
After investigations, she was charged and put before court.
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