A Half-Assini Magistrate Court in the Western Region, has fined a 54-year-old self-acclaimed Susu collector, GHC1,200.00 or in default serve 18 months imprisonment for fraud.

Mr Samuel Kwasi Acquah, from Ahobre Number Two near Half-Assini, pleaded guilty. The Court ordered him to pay GHC9,000.00 being liability plus compensation to the complaint for the inconveniences she had gone through as well as the interest she may have accrued if the money had been invested.

The Court further ordered that the total amount due to the complainant should be paid before the payment of fine.

Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Kumi told the Court, presided over by Mr Abdul Majid Illiasu, that the complainant, Madam Akasi Beneyekoni, is a fetish priestess at Mpim near Mpataba while the convict is a Susu collector from Ahobre.

He said in Match last year, the convict visited the complainant and introduced himself as a "Susu" collector and convinced her to deposit GHC8,200.00 in his Susu scheme for her to earn three times that amount as a loan within three months.

The prosecutor said the complainant instantly deposited GHC4,000.00 and a week's time deposited the balance of GHC4,200.00.

He said convict went into hiding and all efforts to locate him proved futile until December 19 when he was arrested at Bonyere near Tikobo Number One, upon tip-off.

Chief Inspector Kumi said he admitted having taken the said money from the complainant, in his Police investigation caution statement and pleaded for two months to refund the money hence his appearance before the Court.