In a significant ruling by the Wenchi District Court in the Bono Region, five members of a Mobile Money (MOMO) fraud syndicate were each fined GH¢6,000 for engaging in fraudulent electronic fund transfers. The court, presided over by Mr. Issah Abdul Wahab, delivered the judgment on Monday following the defendants' guilty plea.
The individuals involved in the case were identified as Edward Amuzu, 26; Salifu Nurudeen, 25; John Pobi; Godfred Acquah, 25; and Maxwell Fosu Kyei, 31. They were charged with defrauding by false pretense. In the event of default on payment of the fines, the court stipulated that each defendant would face a six-month prison sentence. However, all five managed to pay the fines and were subsequently discharged.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Sameji, informed the court that the complainant, Mr. Sylvester Declercq Mensah, a 54-year-old agriculturist residing in Boadan in the Wenchi Municipality, had reported the case to law enforcement. According to ASP Sameji, on April 24, 2025, Mr. Mensah filed a complaint with the Wenchi Police Station, alleging that the convicts had defrauded him of GH¢130,000.
Through diligent police investigations and intelligence efforts, the suspects were apprehended at various locations, including Accra, Kasoa, Winneba, and Assin Fosu, on January 18, 2026. The police successfully recovered the full amount of GH¢130,000 from the perpetrators.
ASP Sameji detailed the modus operandi of the syndicate. The fraudsters allegedly contacted Mr. Mensah under the pretext of having mistakenly transferred money into his Mobile Money account. They then requested his assistance in reversing the transactions. This ruse ultimately led to the fraudulent transfer of funds from Mr. Mensah's account.
The court also noted that an additional accomplice involved in the scheme remains at large. Efforts are reportedly ongoing to apprehend this individual.
In his ruling, Mr. Wahab ordered that the recovered sum of GH¢130,000 be returned to the complainant. This decision underscores the court's commitment to ensuring justice and protecting citizens from financial fraud.
This case serves as a cautionary tale for individuals to remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes involving electronic financial transactions. It also highlights the importance of reporting such crimes promptly to law enforcement agencies for appropriate action. The successful recovery of funds and prosecution of offenders demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated police efforts in combating financial crimes in Ghana.
-By Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
