The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced that Abdul Munaf Lawal, a 32-year-old man, has been convicted and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment with hard labour for defrauding by false pretences.
The conviction stems from a case reported on July 27, 2023, in which Lawal collected USD 50,000 from a complainant under the pretext of converting it into Ghana cedis. After receiving the funds, however, he failed to fulfil his part of the agreement and subsequently absconded.
Following extensive investigations, the suspect was arrested in Accra on June 27, 2025, in connection with a similar offence. He was later transferred to the Ashanti Regional Police Command for further investigations.
Lawal was charged and arraigned before the Asokwa Circuit Court 1, presided over by His Honour Mr. Fred Obikyere (Esq.). He initially pleaded not guilty and was remanded into police custody pending trial.
On September 3, 2025, however, Lawal changed his plea to guilty. During proceedings, the prosecution revealed that he had a prior conviction and had served a 24-month sentence for stealing.
Sentencing was therefore deferred to September 10, 2025, when the court convicted him and handed down a 35-year jail term with hard labour.
Police Caution to the Public
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting fraud-related crimes and urged the public to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activities, and exercise caution in financial dealings to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
