The Accra Circuit Court has granted GH¢150,000 bail to three people, who have been accused of forging indenture and other land documents, to unlawfully evict tenants.
Daniel Nii Martey Laryea, a traditional ruler, and Robert Nii Abbosey Djane, a businessman, were charged with protection of land and interest in land, whilst Philip OkpotiNai, a jeweler, was accused of forging documents covering land.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah, admitted accused to GH¢50,000bail each with two sureties each.
The court directed that the sureties should be Ghanaians, and adjourned the case to May 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, their accomplices, Nii Okyeame and Alex Zinkam, were currently at large.
Prosecuting, Superintendent (Sup) of Police Augustus Yirenkyi said that the complainants in the case, Mr Ellis Nii Larnyo and Mr Bernard Amoako, were residents of Tema Community 5 and East Legon respectively.
The prosecution said two of the accused resided at Teshie, and the other lived in Madina.
Sup Yirenkyi said, in 1989, Nii Larnyo’s wife acquired land at the American House area of East Legon, and the property was handed over to Nii Larnyo.
The court heard that NiiLarnyo built a fence wall around the land and leased portions of it temporarily to some people, including Mr Amoako.
Sup Yirenkyisaid the tenants placed their kiosks and shipping containers on the land, which they have used as dwelling places.
The prosecution said Nii Larnyo and his tenants have enjoyed possession of the land since it was purchased.
Sup Yirenkyi said in 2021, Mr Amoako secured copies of the indenture on the land, obtained a land certificate and claimed that the land belonged to him.
The prosecution said Mr Amoako contacted Laryea to evict the tenants from the land.
Sup Yirenkyi said Laryea recruited Djane, Okyeame and Zinkam and they went to the land and unlawfully pulled down a portion of the fence wall. – GNA
