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The Ashanti Regional Police Command has confirmed that 32-year-old Abdul Munaf Lawal has been sentenced to 35 years in prison with hard labour for defrauding a victim of $50,000 under false pretences.
In a statement signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Godwin Ahianyo, Head of Public Affairs for the Command, police said the conviction concludes a case first reported in July 2023.
Lawal was accused of collecting $50,000 from a complainant under the pretext of converting the funds into Ghana cedis but failed to return the money and went into hiding.
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He was eventually arrested in Accra on June 27, 2025, in connection with another fraud case and later transferred to the Ashanti Regional Police Command, where investigations linked him to the earlier incident.
Lawal was arraigned before the Asokwa Circuit Court 1, presided over by His Honour Mr. Fred Obikyere. He initially pleaded not guilty and was remanded into custody during trial.
However, on September 3, 2025, he changed his plea to guilty. The prosecution also revealed that he had a previous criminal record, having served a 24-month prison sentence for theft.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem