2 granted GH¢10,000 bail for illegal power disconnection, fraud

Two persons have been granted GH¢10,000 bail with one surety by the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly engaging in illegal power connection and defrauding by false pretence.

Perry Kumi Asamoah, 38, and Samuel Afful Kenneth, 49, both electricians, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

They were arrested after a customer of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), reported them to the Revenue Protection Unit of the company, and another person, known only as Isaac, is currently at large.

Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant (D/SGT) Louis Mensah told the court presided over by Mr Bright Samuel Acquah that the three accused introduced themselves to the complainant as personnel of ECG on meter monitoring operation.

The court heard that customer led accused to where the ECG meter with serial number P18019458 had been mounted.

Sgt Mensah said first accused opened the meter and removed a component, faulted the complainant for engaging in illegal connection and disconnected power to the house.

Sgt Mensah said when complainant pleaded for restoration of power, the accused demanded GH¢3,000 from her to restore the power.

The prosecution said complainant’s husband sent GH¢1,500 through Mobile Money transfer to the first accused’s momo number before the power was restored.

Sgt Mensah reported the matter to ECG Revenue Protection Unit and the case referred to ECG Investigation Unit for action.

Also, on May 5, the prosecutor said that the accused visited another ECG customer at Obojo, Accra, with the same modus and the customer.

Sgt Mensah saidthe customer called ECG office for verification, leading to the arrest of the first and second accused, but the third person escaped.

A search conducted on the two accused revealed two identity cards bearing their names, photos with the serial numbers 193955 and 193954 respectively.

According to the prosecution, during investigation, summons from the ECG, which appeared to be forged, and one Mobile phone which contained the Tigo chip that was used to receive the amount from the complainant’s husband was found.

Sgt Mensah said further checks revealed the Barcode on the two ID cards belonged to late Kingsley Darko, who was a former employee of the ECG.

The court heard that the accused in their caution statements admitted the offences leveled against them, and that efforts were underway to arrest the third accused.

BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS