An Accra Circuit Court has adjourned the case
involving the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah,
also known as NAM 1, and two others, to November 20, 2019.
The court presided by Mrs Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye
adjourned the case because the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police
(ASP), Mr Sylvester Asare, was absent in court.
Superintendent George Amegah held brief for ASP
Asare, while Madam Benedicta Twum did same for Mr Kwame Boafo Akuffo.
On Tuesday, September 3, the court granted a
request for adjournment to enable the state to again amend charges in the case,
which would now make him face 48 fresh charges.
In an oral application, ASP Asare, prayed the
court that it had become necessary to amend the charge sheet.
It will be the second time the state is amending
the charge sheet.
Initially, seven charges were preferred against
the accused, when the case was first filed on July 12, this year, and subsequently,
the state added six more charges on July 26, bringing the charges to 13.
Meanwhile, Nana Appiah is still on his former
bail of GH¢1billion with five sureties, and is to report to the police every
Wednesday at 1000 hours.
Nana Appiah pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges
levelled against him by the state.
He was charged with abetment of crime,
defrauding by false pretenses, carrying on a deposit-taking business without license,
sale of minerals without license, unlawful deposit taking, and money
laundering.
The Prosecution told the court that Menzgold
Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult Limited were private limited liability
companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179).
Nana Appiah Mensah is the CEO, Rose Tetteh, a
Director and Benedicta Appiah, the Secretary of Menzgold and Brew Marketing
Consult Limited.
The prosecution said in October, 2018, the
Police received petitions from about 16,000 complainants to the effect that
Menzgold and Brew Marketing Company made a representation and invitation
through its officers Nana Appiah, Rita and Benedicta to the public including;
the complainants to deposit money for fixed period with interest under pretext
of purchasing gold from Brew Marketing Consult.
He said the gold purchased from the Brew
Marketing was to be traded in by Menzgold to accrue monthly interest of 10 per cent,
adding that upon such representation, the complainants deposited various sums
of money, totaling GH¢1.6 billion.
The prosecution said Police then commenced
investigations into the activities of the accused persons, but said Nana
Appiah, Rita and Benedicta absconded and their offices and residence were found
locked up, so a bench warrant was issued for their arrest.
He said on July 11, Nana Appiah arrived at the
Kotoka International Airport and was arrested by the Police, and subsequently
remanded into Police custody to assist investigations.
Prosecution said, investigations so far
disclosed that Menzgold and Brew Marketing were incorporated under the
Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179) as limited liability companies in December, 2013
and December, 2016.
He said the principal activities of Nana Appiah
included gold and diamond mining, dealership in gold and other precious
minerals, subsequently, in August, 2016, he obtained license from the state
through the Minerals Commission to purchase and export gold from any person holding
a small-scale mining license (small-scale miners).
ASP Asare said however, per the terms and
condition of the license, Nana Appiah was required to appoint a gold buying
agent to purchase gold on its behalf from small-scale miners.
He said the accused’s appointment of a gold buying agent, led to the formation of Brew Marketing in December, 2016.
ASP Asare added that investigations disclosed
that Brew Marketing, though incorporated to purchase and sell gold among
others, was not licensed by the Minerals Commission to trade in gold.
GNA
The post NAM 1 case adjourned to Nov 20 appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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