Crime Check Foundation CCF, a correctional focused NGO, has facilitated the release of 31 year old Richard Ofosu Odame at the Awutu Camp Prison.
Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of CCF said the Foundation facilitated the release of the inmate with support from Kwabena and Ekua in the U.S.
Odame, a native of Begoro in the Eastern Region was charged with defrauding by false pretense and convicted to a fine of one thousand and eighty Ghana cedis or in default serve a twelve months jail term. But he could not pay the fine.
Narrating the events that led to his conviction, the inmate said he was working with his brother who introduced and trained him as a logging contractor.
After the training, he said his brother gave him an amount of two thousand Ghana cedis to start a business as a logging contractor. “I went on agreement with my brother to supply the logs to his Sawmill in Suhum. I did supply to him but the money he pays me is not enough to pay the operators and those who carry the logs. When I call him to complain, he fabricates stories”. He told crimecheckghana.
The situation, he said led him into debt so he decided to sell to another buyer who pays well at Amasaman. Richard said his brother was not happy about the new development so he asked him to pay him back his two thousand Ghana cedis with interest.
The young man said he gave his brother an initial amount of one thousand Ghana cedis but he rejected it. “I told him to keep the one thousand Ghana cedis so I pay the rest later but my brother did not understand. He said he needed his two thousand Ghana cedis with the interest. He contacted his CID friend who arrested me”. Richard said.
The inmate said he was sent to court and the judge asked him to pay the remaining money in five months.
He claimed he was summoned to court again after threatening his brother and was asked to pay the outright fine or in default spend twelve months in jail. “When I was summoned to court, it was not yet five months but I had paid five hundred and forty Ghana cedis”.
He was glad when Crime Check Foundation surprised him by paying this fine through a donor.
He expressed gratitude to the donors, Kwabena and Ekua, for paying for his release.
Richard Odame advised the public especially the youth to be cautious in life and avoid acts that could land them in prison.
