Alleged Lotto ‘fraudsters” bailed GH¢2.7m

Nine persons alleged to have engaged in lotto fraud on social media have been granted bail amounting to  GH¢ 2,700,000.00 by an Accra Circuit Court.

The accused persons, numbering nine(9), whose names are Prince Agboglah Selorm, Wise Akagbo, Hallow Winnifred, Akli Gershon, Peter Sappey, Mantey Dzidzinyo, Oscar Amevor, Azilah Elijah, and Samuel Kuditsa were arrested following complaints that they were defrauding victims using names of people who work with the NLA.

They have thus been charged on one count of displaying charlatanic materials. 

Additionally, one of them, Selorm has been charged with defrauding by false pretense for defrauding a lady called Comfort of an amount of GH¢300,000.

They have meanwhile pleaded not guilty to the charges and been admitted to a bail of GH¢ 2,700,000 with two sureties each.

Since January 2022, the National Lottery Authority has received several complaints on the use by unscrupulous persons of symbols, photographs, and other details of staff of the Authority to give out lotto numbers at fees on social media via various accounts.

Inspector Frederick Sarpong, prosecutor for the case noted in court that the above was the modus operadi of the accused persons.

He notes that the National Lottery Authority lodged a complaint at their outfit and victims duly invited pending subsequent investigation.

Moreover, he said that police upon investigation, were able to trace the accused persons through the phone numbers used to perpetuate their fraudulent activity.

The police further conducted a search on each of the persons which led them to retrieve various mobile phones with varied SIM cards.

Further to the above, he told the court that the accused persons via their activity, have defrauded especially one Comfort.

Prosecutors asked for more time from the court in order to do a further and thorough investigation into the case.

The court, presided over by His Honour Emmanuel Essandoh, has meanwhile been adjourned to April 4, 2022.