May 5 is the date set for the sentencing for Camara Nkrumah, 57, from Tryall Heights in St Catherine who pleaded guilty to fraudulent conversion in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Nkrumah was released on bail and the court also ordered a social enquiry report in the matter.

Nkrumah admitted to concocting an elaborate scheme to confiscate 93 acres of land valued at $168 million from two St Mary land owners, then sell it for a mere $5 million two years ago.

Nkrumah, who was jointly charged with another man who is still at large, initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but changed his plea when the trial resumed on Monday.

The property at the centre of the case, which is located in Mango Valley, St Mary, was purchased by the complainant in 2008.

However, the facts are that Nkrumah used a company he had established to apply to the Registrar of Titles office in Kingston for a replacement title, claiming that the original one was lost.

He was issued a new title bearing the name of the original owners and then applied through his company Nkrumah and Associates, for the property to be transferred to the person who has been jointly charged in the case.

Months after the transfer was completed, Nkrumah again applied to the Registrar of Titles office for a new title bearing the name of his accomplice, claiming that the previous one was damaged.

He was issued with a new title in the name of his accomplice then sold the property to a development company for $5 million.

The development company had started construction on the property when the actual owners discovered what had happened and told the police.

-S.W.