The investigator of the alleged fraudulent sale of land by highlife musician, Akosua Agyapong, and one Frank Agyemang, has told the Accra Circuit Court that his investigations revealed that the land did not belong to the two accused persons.
Detective Chief Inspector John Awuni who is the third prosecution witness during cross-examination on Monday [February 24] told the court that his checks at the Lands Commission revealed that part of the land was actually for one Dora Amoansi, while the rest was for one Samuel Amoako.
Alleged land fraud
Agyapong and Agyemang were hauled to court in October 2017 for allegedly defrauding a businessman of GH¢105,000 in a land deal.
The prosecution claims the musician and Agyemang, aka, Killer Boss, sold a land, which apparently did not belong to them to the businessman.
The two have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime and fraudulent transaction of land and are each on bail in the sum of GH¢160,000 bail with three sureties.
Cross-examination
During cross-examination, counsel for Agyapong, Mr B. K. Agbley, asked the witness how he concluded that the land was not for the accused persons.
Chief Inspector Awuni answered that documents he obtained from the Lands Commission proved that the land was not for Agyapong and Agyemang.
According to him, all the documents relating to the land bore the names of Amoansi and Amoako.
Below are excerpts of the cross-examination:
Lawyer Agbley: Tell this court, what exactly did you investigate?
Chief Inspector Awuni: Fraudulent transaction of land against the accused persons.
Lawyer Agbley: Who did you find as holding and selling the land?
Chief Inspector Awuni: The accused persons claimed ownership of the land and sold it to the complainant.
The cross-examination will continue on March 3, this year at the court presided over by Ms Priscilla Dappah Mireku.
Prosecution’s Case
Per the facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ms Agnes Boafo, the complainant in the case was a car merchant, while Agyemang claimed to be a building contractor.
She explained that in February 2017, the businessman wanted a parcel of land by the roadside to display his cars for sale. As a result, he contacted Akosua Agyapong for assistance.
The musician, the prosecutor said, told the businessman that she had a plot of land for rent, but the businessman wanted an outright sale.
“Later Akosua introduced Agyemang to the businessman as her brother who had a one plot of land opposite the West Hills Mall for sale. The businessman after inspecting the land showed interest,’’ she said.
ASP Boafo added that the highlife maestro assured the businessman that the land was genuine and Agyemang was the rightful owner.
“They then took the businessman to the Lands Commission, went into one of the offices and came out with someone who confirmed that the land indeed belonged to Agyemang, and upon this, the businessman became convinced,’’ she said.
Afterwards, the prosecutor said, the businessman paid GH¢105,000 for the land and later gave a Toyota RAV 4 vehicle valued at GH¢100,000 to Agyemang for another plot of land.
“When the businessman went to work on the land, another person came to claim ownership of the land with original documents. He reported the matter to the police leading to Akosua and Agyemang’s arrest. Agyemang, however, released the vehicle to the police,” the prosecutor added.
