An unemployed man who allegedly swindled a businessman of a piece of land valued at GH¢170,000 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. 

Davis Nii Odai Afotey, charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and fraudulent transaction of land, pleaded not guilty. 

His accomplices, namely Elvis Okley and Nii Bortey aka Azoor are said to be at large. 

The Court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah has admitted Afotey to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one to be justified. 

The Court also ordered Afotey to report to the Police once every week. 

The matter has been adjourned to February 25, 2025. 

The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Daniel Danku said the complainant was a resident of Adentan while Davis Afotey resided in Nungua Nautical, Accra. 

In January 2023, the complainant saw a parcel of land located at East Legon Hills and expressed interest. 

The prosecution said the complainant, after making some enquiries, met Davis Afotey, the first accused, who claimed ownership of the land. 

The Court heard that the parties in the case agreed on a price of GH¢170,000 for the land. 

The prosecution said the complainant made an advance payment of GH¢110,000 to Afotey, who promised to produce documents covering the land. 

Davis Afotey later produced and handed over a site plan to the complainant to search for the Lands Commission. 

The prosecution said after the search, it was established that the site plan given to the complainant by the accused had nothing to do with land the complainant paid for. 

When the complainant confronted Davis Afotey, he told him that the said land had been sold to another person by his elder brother. 

The prosecution told the Court that Afotey promised to replace the land for the complainant and led him to the two other accused persons who are at large, saying they were his uncles and that they were the custodians of the land he intended to sell to him. 

The Prosecution therefore led the complainant to Kpone Katamanso and made him pay GH¢26,000 for documentation and other expenses before he could develop the land. 

When the complainant later visited the said land, he discovered the land had been sold and same did not belong to the two other accused persons. 

The prosecution said all efforts made by the complainant to locate the two other accused persons had been futile. 

A report was made to the Police and Afotey was arrested from his hideout at Nungua. 

Afotey, in his cautioned statement, admitted the offence and mentioned the two absconding accused persons as his accomplices.