The Accra Circuit Court Nine, has remanded a 56-year-old mechanic, for allegedly possessing forged land documents.
Atta Alhassan was denied bail because he was arraigned on a bench warrant.
He denied possessing forged documents and he would re-appear before court on May 9, 2024.
Police Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah, that the complainant in the case is a private legal practitioner living in Accra.
The prosecution said Alhassanis a vehicle mechanic, and a resident of Awoshie, a suburb of Accra.
Chief Insp Danku said that in 2002, the complainant applied to the Ghana Railways Company Limited, now the Ghana Railway Development Authority, for a 50-year lease on land in Avenor, Accra.
He said the application was approved, and an engineers’ plan indicate the area of 0.15 acres of the land the company leased to him.
Chief Insp Danku said the complainant, who could not immediately start developing the land, asked his brothers to settle at the place as care takers.
The prosecution said complainant visited the land regularly to ensure that no physical development took place on the plot by mechanics, who had their shops and vehicles littered on it.
Chief Insp Danku said in December 2019, the complainant secured a building permit from the Okaikoi South Sub-Metro District Council of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, to begin construction works on the land.
The prosecution said in May, 2023, the complainant requested Alhassan to remove his vehicles, parked at the place, so that he (compliananat) could start development.
Chief Insp Danku said Alhassan refused to quit the site, and instead he (Alhassan) brought in more heavy-duty vehicles and buses to the place, preventing the complaint from developing the land.
The court heard that when complainant’s attempts to evict accused from the land failed, he reported the case to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and the assembly removed the vehiclesfrom the land.
Chief Insp Danku said the accused, who felt offended by the action, threatened to hire thugs to destroy complainant’s structures.
The court was told that the complainant reported the case to the police, and Alhassan was invited to assist in investigation.
Chief Insp Danku said during the investigation, Alhassan claimed the land belonged to him, and presented a lease agreement purported to be issued by Ghana Railway Company Limited on May 21, 2001, with engineers plan.
The prosecution noted that a search carried out at the Ghana Railways Development Authority, proved the complainant’s lease was with the authority, and that the document supplied by the accused did not originate from the authority. —GNA
