Takoradi: Lady who faked her kidnap jailed 6 years

A Takoradi Circuit Court ‘A’ has sentenced a woman who faked her kidnap to six years in jail.

Joana Krah Akos was sentenced to six -year imprisonment in hard labour for deceiving a public officer and false publication in the kidnap saga.

The accused, 29, was also sentenced for two years in imprisonment in hard labour for false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public contrary to section 208(I) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (ACT29).

The sentences would be run concurrently.

Prosecutor, Sgt. Robert Amonoo Yawson, told the court presided over by His Honour, Michael Kwadwjo Ampadu that on October 22, 2021, the complainant, Francis Nyamgbo, a proprietor of Bill Burk Academy and an Evangelist of the Church of Christ, Kojokrom branch reported  the accused Joana Krah Akos, unemployed and an adopted daughter of the complainant, a resident of Assasedo, a suburb of Kojokrom.

Sergeant Yawson  explained that the accused person about a fortnight ago, went to the complainant and collected an amount of GHC 500.00 from him ostensibly for Indomie Food Joint Business at Kofi-Essuonkrom near Kojokrom.

Staged Kidnap

He said, the complainant on October 22, 2021, at about 7:30am rang the accused with the intention of exchanging pleasantries with her but had no response. He later, in a few minutes received a text message from the accused contact number that she had  been kidnapped by unknown persons and taken to an unknown destination.

Read Also: Lawyer Sosu drags Adentan Police Commander to Privileges Committee

Mr. Yawson continued that the complainant subsequently received several  frightening text messages from the accused’s contact number demanding  a ransom of GHC 5,000.00 before she could release the accused.

The complainant, according to the prosecutor became terrified after receiving those threatening text messages and reported the case at the Central Police Station in Takoradi.

He stressed that at the police station, the accused was heard on the complainant’s phone crying for help adding that  her captors might kill or rape her. The accused continued her ploy with series of frightening text messages perceived to have been kidnapped indeed.

In the course  of investigation, the police visited the home of the accused and her friends but there was  no clue of her whereabouts. Searches at Kofi-Essuonkrom also revealed that the accused did not operate the  Indomie Food Joint there.

In the course of investigation, the police on October 22, 2021, arrested close pals of the accused, Susana Awortwe Konadu, aged 27 years and Francis Eshun Nana Kwame, aged 23, in connection with the crime.

The two suspects were later released after interrogation on police inquiry bail.

The Prosecutor, however indicated that, the accused on October 23, 2021, after noticing the vigorous pursuits of the police reported herself at the police station, whereupon, she was arrested.

After her arrest, the accused in her caution statement stated that, she was making fun of the complainant and that she was not kidnapped and never thought the complainant could report the matter to the police.

The judge in a sentencing indicated that he wants the judgement of the Joana Krah Akos to serve as a deterrent to those who want to use kidnapping as a means to extort money from people and relatives.

The judge gave the child of the accused to the custody of the “adopter father”..

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Mathew Dadzie

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.