Businessman Accused of Defrauding Retired Judge Granted GHȼ200,000 Bail

A 40-year-old businessman, Charles Amoateng, has been granted GHȼ200,000 bail by the Amasaman Circuit Court after being accused of defrauding a retired judge of GHȼ300,000 under the guise of securing a plot of land.

Amoateng, who is an estate developer, was accused of tricking Justice Fred Kwesi Awuah, a retired High Court judge, into making a substantial payment for a piece of land that was allegedly unavailable.

The court, presided over by Ms. Enid Marful-Sau, stipulated that Amoateng should provide two sureties to stand for him and deposit valid national identity cards with the court’s registry.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on April 2, 2025.

Prosecuting the case, Police Sergeant Faustina Asamoah revealed that in December 2023, Justice Awuah was seeking to purchase a plot of land and was introduced to Amoateng.

Amoateng took the retired judge and his introducer to a plot located at Abor Village, near Amasaman, which caught the complainant’s interest.

After negotiations, the accused asked the complainant to pay GHȼ400,000, of which Justice Awuah made a partial payment of GHȼ300,000.

The remaining GHȼ100,000 was to be settled once the necessary documentation for the land was provided.

However, the complainant soon discovered that someone was already developing the land. When he confronted Amoateng, the businessman claimed there was a dispute over the land being resolved in court.

Amoateng later promised to offer a different plot of land, but the complainant refused, demanding a refund of his GHȼ300,000.

Despite receiving only GHȼ100,000 back, Justice Awuah reported the matter to the Amasaman Divisional CID on November 19, 2024. Amoateng was arrested shortly after.

In his caution statement, he admitted to the offense and promised to refund the remaining GHȼ200,000 but failed to do so.

Amoateng’s case has sparked concern over fraudulent land transactions, and the court’s decision to grant bail has been met with some scrutiny.

The trial will continue as the investigation into the case deepens.