Tarkwa woman jailed two years for multi-victim rent scam

A 50-year-old unemployed woman, Benedicta Kwakye alias Esi Mary, has been sentenced by the Tarkwa District Court Two to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defrauding seven people under the guise of renting out the same room.

Presiding judge Isaac Osei Asare convicted her after she pleaded guilty to seven counts of defrauding by false pretence. The two-year sentences on each count will run concurrently.

According to Police Sergeant Adwoa Yeboah, the lead prosecutor, the case began when Rebecca Kwofie, a trader from Cyanide, Tarkwa, sought a room to rent in April 2025. Benedicta approached her with an offer—a room at GH¢70 per month.

Benedicta showed Rebecca a room in her house and demanded an advance of GH¢2,500 for three years’ rent. After payment, she promised to hand over the keys within three weeks.

But repeated follow-ups yielded nothing. During one visit, Rebecca met the landlord, who disclosed that the room was already occupied by someone who had travelled.

When Rebecca demanded her money back, Benedicta ignored her calls.

On July 8, 2025, Rebecca discovered Benedicta was in custody at Tarkwa Central Police Station for a similar offence. She identified her to police and lodged a formal complaint.

Subsequent investigations revealed Benedicta had rented the same room to six other unsuspecting victims, collecting money from all of them.

The convict later told police she had invested the proceeds into trading but claimed the money was stolen from her during a trip to Accra to purchase goods.