A self-styled businessman, Gideon Kamasah, has been re-arrested by the police after he was discharged by an Accra Circuit Court.
He was discharged by the court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, following withdrawal of the case by the prosecution on last week Friday.
Kamasah was arraigned for fraudulent transaction and defrauding by false pretences but pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The accused was granted bail prior to the case being strike out and discharged by the court.
Background
According to the prosecution led by Inspector Isaac Babaye, Kamasah allegedly defrauded one Ifeanyi Charles Nwosu, a Nigerian national and a football manager who resides at North Legon, Accra.
He said Kamasah, self-acclaimed businessman is a resident of Pantang.
The facts of the case are that sometime in October 2021, Ifeanyi, the complainant, needed a parcel of land to buy and he was introduced to the accused person by his friend Emeka Wilson.
As a result, Kamasah took the complainant to a parcel of land at Pantang Traicone estate phase 4, with a claim that he has been authorised by one Ernesto Taricone to sell that property at the cost of GH¢400,000.
Kamasah collected an amount of GH¢300,000 from the complainant to be given to the Ernesto Traicone but it turned out to be false.
That is, the complainant, after the payment, requested to meet the supposed land owner on many occasions but all didn’t avail. However, after several insistence, Kamasah finally led him to Ernesto Traicone.
Regrettably, it came to light that Ernesto Taricone only informed Kamasah of his intention to sell the land but never authorised him to collect any money from anyone for that purpose.
Ernesto Taricone also made it clear to the complainant that the land was no longer available for sale.
Instead of refunding the complainant’s money, Kamasah again took the former to another fenced land at Pantang with building structures already on it, with people living them.
He allegedly lured the complainant that the land is his and was putting it out for sale at GHC540,000.
Therefore, in order for the complainant to make up for the difference, he paid additional GH¢90,000 as part payment and was promised that the occupants of the said land would be evicted to give him access to the land.
This time round too, it was said that Kamasah could not live up to his promise.
Ifeanyi then reported the matter to the Police and Kamasah was arrested and released on Police enquiry bail. In the course of investigation, Kamasah refunded GH¢20,000.00 and later jumped bail.
Investigation further revealed that Philemon Baiden was in possession of the latter land before Kamasah entered it with force to construct a fence wall.
Currently, the ownership of the land is being contested at the Land Division of the Accra High Court, between Philemon Baiden, plaintiff, and suspect Kamasah and other defendants. The case has been running since 2021.
When the police conducted an official search of the land, it was revealed that portion of the land certificate in the name Kagimak properties limited and with Philemon Baiden on the other portion.
On September 7, 2022, Kamasah was arrested at his hide out and was charged with the offences and put before court.
