Two individuals who defrauded a businessman in Kumasi of GH¢1,700,000 by promising to sell him a schnapps bottle filled with mercury have been sentenced to 10 years each in absentia by an Adentan Circuit Court.
Prince Kyei Bennett, aged 48 and a businessman, and Samuel Nutsugah, aged 58 and unemployed, were found guilty of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences. They received concurrent sentences of five years for conspiracy and 10 years for fraud.
The court, under the direction of Judge Sedinam Awo Kwadam, issued the verdict after the defendants ceased attending court proceedings. Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo led the prosecution, presenting evidence and witness testimonies that led to the convictions.
According to the prosecution, Nutsugah initially approached the victim in April 2017, claiming to sell bottles of schnapps containing mercury. Bennett later joined as his partner. The victim was promised substantial financial rewards and a house if he participated in rituals to activate the mercury’s supposed powers.
Over time, the victim handed over GH¢1,700,000 to Bennett and Nutsugah, who later presented him with a bag supposedly filled with money, but filled with sawdust upon inspection by police.
In their defense, Bennett admitted to taking GHC800,000, while Nutsugah claimed uncertainty regarding the exact amount received. The case unfolded at a guest house where the victim was taken for rituals before authorities intervened.
