The Wenchi District Court has imposed fines of GH¢6,000 each on five members of a mobile money fraud syndicate for their roles in a sophisticated electronic money scam that cost a victim GH¢130,000.

The accused persons, who all pleaded guilty, were convicted by the court presided over by His Worship Issah Abdul Wahab on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud through false pretence.

Each faced a six-month jail term in default but avoided imprisonment after paying the fines in full.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed on April 24, 2025, by a Wenchi-based farmer, Sylvester Declerq Mensah, who reported that unknown individuals had siphoned GH¢130,000 from him through fraudulent electronic fund transfers.

Following months of investigations, police arrested the suspects on January 18, 2026.

Those convicted were Edward Amuzu; Kwame Tina, 26; Salifu Nurudeen, also known as El-man, 25; Godfred Acquah, popularly called Kofi Biggs or Agabus, 25; and Maxwell Fosu Kwakye, 31.

They are residents of Kasoa, Winneba and Asin Fosu in the Central Region. One additional suspect is still on the run.

Presenting the case, the prosecutor, ASP Samuel Sameji, informed the court that the entire stolen amount had been successfully retrieved from the accused persons.

In his ruling, the judge ordered the police to refund the full GH¢130,000 to the complainant.

While handing down the sentence, the court took into account that the offenders were first-time convicts and that there was no evidence linking them to other similar crimes.

After paying their fines, all five were discharged.