The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced that 32-year-old Abdul Munaf Lawal has been convicted and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment with hard labour for the crime of Defrauding by False Pretenses.
According to police records, the case originated on July 27, 2023, when Lawal collected $50,000 (USD) from a complainant under the pretext of converting it into its Ghana cedi equivalent. After receiving the funds, however, he failed to honour the agreement and absconded.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Following extensive investigations, Lawal was arrested in Accra on June 27, 2025, in connection with a similar fraudulent offence. He was later transferred to the Ashanti Regional Police Command for further investigations.
The suspect was subsequently arraigned before the Asokwa Circuit Court 1, presided over by His Honour Fred Obikyere (Esq.). Initially, he pleaded not guilty and was remanded in police custody.
On September 3, 2025, however, Lawal changed his plea to guilty. During the court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that he had previously served a 24-month prison sentence for theft, marking him as a repeat offender.
Final Sentence
On September 10, 2025, the Asokwa Circuit Court delivered its ruling, convicting Lawal and sentencing him to 35 years in prison with hard labour.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has since urged the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters who lure unsuspecting victims with promises of currency conversions and other fraudulent schemes.
