State
withdraws charges against Selormey in one case
Accra
(Greater Accra) 30 October 2001 - The state on Monday withdrew charges levelled
against Victor Selormey, former Deputy Minister of Finance in one of the two
cases for which he is being tried.
An Accra
Circuit Tribunal chaired by Ziblim Imoru granted an application by the Director
of Pubic Prosecution (DPP), Osafo Sampong to withdraw charges of causing loss
by carelessness to public property against the former minister. No reason was
given by the DPP.
Selormey
was alleged to have caused the transfer of 68,000 dollars to Leebda Corporation
of USA as consultancy fees and 45,000 dollars to LEXDEV International for the
purchase of a vehicle. He pleaded not guilty and was granted 100 million cedis
bail.
He is
facing another charge at the Fast Tract Court for transferring more than one
million dollars to Leebda for the court computerisation project.
Prosecuting
Deputy Superintendent of Police Patrick Sarpong had told the tribunal earlier
that in February 1998 Selormey caused Metropolitan and Allied Bank, Ghana, to
transfer 45,000 dollars to Messrs LEXDEV International, USA, also known as
Leebda Corporation, owned by one Dr Frederick Owusu Boadu, a friend of
Selormey.
The money
was for payment of a vehicle bought by the state under the Trade and Investment
Programme (TIP). The prosecution said the invoice quoted 38,301 dollars as the
total cost of the vehicle together with all other expenses including freight.
He said the
accused nevertheless caused 45,000 dollars to be transferred to purchase the
vehicle. Between August and December 1998, the prosecution said, Selormey again
caused the transfer to the same company of 68,000 dollars as payment of
consultancy fees.
The anomaly
was detected in April this year when the accused was out of office and a report
was made to the police for investigation, which revealed that Selormey was
careless in over paying for the vehicle as well as "consultancy fees"
for preparation of a contract when no work had been done.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 October 2001 - Defence counsel will on Thursday make a submission of "no case" in the Quality Grain trial in which six persons, including two former Ministers are charged with conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss to the state.
Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, presiding over the Fast Track Court asked counsel to make their submissions when Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the court he was resting the prosecution's case.
The prosecution on Tuesday called its 21st and the last witness, The Reverend Joseph Akunyunu-Tetteh, a Deputy Chief Manager of the Bank of Ghana (BOG), as to show how various amounts were withdrawn from the account of the Quality Grain Company, Ghana Limited in the United States (US) to purchase securities at South Trust Securities, an investment advisors based in Alabama, US.
Witness said analysis shown on bank statements, which are already in evidence indicated that various purchases and redeeming of securities were made between August 8 and November 5, 1997.
Rev Akunyunu-Tetteh said the documents did not mention the name of the beneficiary neither did it mention any of the accused persons. Witness agreed with a suggestion under cross-examination that the transaction earned profit for the company.
Those on trial are, Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey, Nana Ato Dadzie and Kwesi Ahwoi, all former senior public officers.
They have pleaded not guilty and each of them is on a self-recognisance bail.
GRi…/
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Tema (Greater Accra) 30 October 2001 - Police Sergeant William Opoku Acheampong stationed at Tema Fishing Harbour was on Monday arraigned at a Tema Circuit Tribunal on a provisional charge of unlawful imprisonment and extortion.
Acheampong, jointly charged with his friend, Kwame Ackufor, who also posed as a Police Officer, were remanded in custody to re-appear on November 13. Their pleas were not taken.
Briefing newsmen, Mr George Appiah, Tema Regional Crime Officer, said Acheampong had refused to proceed on transfer and deserted his house.
He said last Saturday, Acheampong who was accompanied by his friend, Ackufor arrested one Mr Owusu at the premises of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and immediately handcuffed him on suspicion of smoking "Indian hemp''.
Mr Appiah said Acheampong, initially demanded 20 million cedis from the suspect to shelve the matter but Owusu bargained until they finally settled at 500,000 cedis.
Thereafter, Acheampong, drove Owusu in his (Acheampong's) Mitsubishi saloon car with the registration number GT 5396 C, to a friend of Owusu where he (Owusu) borrowed 200,000 cedis to add to his own 300,000 cedis and gave it to Acheampong.
The Crime Officer said from there he drove again to the Kpone Police Station and demanded a key to open the handcuff to release Owusu. Mr Appiah said no Indian hemp was found on Owusu when searched.
GRi…/
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