By Joyce
Danso, GNA
Accra, Aug. 15, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court
on Wednesday sentenced Victor Morgan Agbotui, a businessman to a year’s
imprisonment in hard labour on charge of fraudulent breach of trust.
Agbotui was also sentenced by the Court to pay
a fine of GH¢36,000.00 on the charge of uttering a Deed of Assignment on
Prestella Plaza, a two storey building housing 16 shops and two offices at
Kokomlemle in Accra.
The said property belonged to Prestella
Boateng, a Ghanaian resident in the United Kingdom.
Agbotui in default of the fine would serve
another year jail term.
Sentences would however run consecutively.
The Court presided over by Ms Patricia Quansah
at the end of the trial found Agbotui guilty and convicted him accordingly. It
however discharged Agbotui on the charges of stealing and forgery of documents.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Stephen Adjei,
the Prosecutor, narrated that the complainant was Madam Prestella Boateng.
Prosecution said the complainant in December
2010 met the convict and they entered into a relationship. Based on that, the
convict assisted the complainant in the management of regularisation of tenancy
agreements with tenants on the said property.
A year after, prosecution said, the
complainant travelled to the UK and left her important documents and valuables
such as documents covering Prestalla Plaza, Honda CRV vehicle, gold ornaments
among others.
Based on that, prosecution said, Agbotui
started exercising control over the complainant’s properties. He took some of
the tenants occupying complainant’s property to Rent Control and Court. This
was after the complainant had granted him a power of attorney.
Unknown to the complainant, Agbotui prepared a
Deed of Assignment transferring complainant‘s interest in the Prestalla Plaza
building and a three bedroom to himself under the name Morgan Haiz Company
Limited.
Prosecution said Agbotui presented the deed of
assignment to the Land Title Registry, Accra and on February 7, 2013, a title certificate
was issued indicating that there had been a transfer of title of Prestella
Plaza to Victor Morgan Agbotui.
Prosecution said the convict kept the
documents of Prestella Plaza to himself and efforts by the complainant to get
the said documents on the property failed.
A report was made to the Police and when
Agbotui was arrested, he stated that the complainant sold Prestella Plaza to
him for a fee of GH¢1,000,000.00.
Prosecution said Agbotui failed to provide
documents as to how he paid the monies to the complainant.
According to prosecution investigation
revealed that no company by name Morgan-Haiz Limited has been registered.
GNA