NAM 1 trial – Prosecution prays for long adjournment

By
Hafsa Obeng, GNA

Accra, Nov. 20, GNA
– The prosecution in the case involving Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM 1) the Chief
Executive Officer of Menzgold Ghana Limited, has prayed the Court hearing the
case for a long adjournment.

Assistant
Superintendent of Police, Mr Sylvester Asare said this would allow the
prosecution to complete their investigations, which was in progress and at an
advanced stage.

“Our investigation
is in progress, we are at an advanced stage and so humbly pray the court to
give us a long adjournment, preferably first week in January 2020.”

He said they wanted
to amend the charge sheet but upon recent discoveries, they want to hold on and
come back in January.

The court presided
over by Mrs Jane Harriet Akeley Quaye however said it could not grant that long
adjournment, and adjourned the case to December 23.

Meanwhile, Nana
Appiah, who pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges leveled against him by the
state is still on his former bail of GH¢1billion with five sureties and is to
report to the police every Wednesday at 1000 hours.

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 Company.

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 company.

He said the gold
purchased from the Brew Marketing was to be traded in by Menzgold to accrue
monthly interest of 10 percent, 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 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, dealers
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, adding 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.

He said Menzgold
through Brew Marketing after incorporation went publicly and invited the
citizenry to deposit money with it for a fixed period with interest under
pretext of gold purchasing.

GNA