The Akim Oda Magistrate Court has ordered a private lotto operator, Joseph Adamu, to pay a sum of GH¢1,370, for pirating on National Lotteries Authority (NLA) drawn numbers for his illegal operations without authorisation.
Adamu pleaded guilty.
In a judgement by the court presided over by Mr Albert Owusu Annor, Adamu would pay a fine of GH¢500, in default of which he would serve a 24-month prison term in hard labour.
He was also directed by the court to pay GH¢870 into government’s chest, while the police would destroy the unapproved lotto coupons manufactured for his unlicensed lotto business.
The court further bonded Adamu for 12 months to be of good behaviour, failure of which he would go to prison for an additional 24 months.
Prosecuting, Detective Inspector Kingsley Antwi stated that the complainants were the Akim Oda-based officials of the National Lottery Authority, while the accused person was an unlicensed lotto operator.
He said on December 24, 2010 at about 1830 hours, the officials had a tip-off that Adamu was operating lottery without authorisation and also pirated on the National Lotteries drawn numbers for his illegal operations.
According to Inspector Antwi, the complainants alerted the Oda Divisional Police who swiftly conducted the operation in Oda Township. In the process Adamu was arrested and when his office was searched, the police found quantities of unapproved sold lotto coupons and a cash of GH¢870, believed to be sales made.
When interrogated, Adamu admitted the offence.