Koo Fori Pleads Not Guilty to $50,000 Land Fraud Charge

Popular Ghanaian comedian and actor Samuel Seth Karikari, widely known as Koo Ofori, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of defrauding by false pretence when he was formally arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court on Monday, May 12, 2025.

The plea comes after his arrest last week on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court on two separate occasions—April 17 and April 23—despite being duly served with summons.

The court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, granted Koo Ofori bail in the sum of GH¢320,000 with three sureties, all of whom must be justified. In addition to the bail terms, the court ordered the accused to deposit his Ghana Card at the court’s registry and report to the police once every month until the trial is concluded.

The 55-year-old actor is facing allegations of defrauding a U.S.-based Ghanaian medical practitioner, Dr. Emy Oduro-Burton, of $50,000 (approximately GH¢309,000) under the pretext of securing a full plot of land for her at Spintex-Acsta in Accra.

Prosecutors say that in 2021, Koo Ofori received the funds through his Consolidated Bank dollar account but used only GH¢170,000 to purchase a half plot from one Kwaku Danso. The discrepancy was discovered when the complainant visited Ghana and inspected the land.

According to investigators, Koo Ofori admitted to the offence in his caution statement. Despite this, he now contests the charge in court.

The case has been adjourned to a later date for case management and presentation of evidence.

The post Koo Fori Pleads Not Guilty to $50,000 Land Fraud Charge appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

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