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Dr. Francis Bawaana Dukura
The Member of Parliament (MP) from the Jirapa constituency in the Upper West region, Dr. Francis Bawaana Dukura, appeared in court on charges of fraud and money laundering.
It is alleged that Dr. Dakura raised the equivalent of GH equivalent 3.5 million to $ 900,000 between April 2016 and January 2017, under the pretext of selling a 2.8 acre piece of land owned by the Board of Museums and Monuments of Ghana (GMMB) at Roman Ridge in Accra to the Executive Director. Official of Prefos Company Limited.
The deputy pleaded not guilty to defrauding with falsehoods, falsification of accounts, falsification of other documents, issuance of falsified documents and money laundering.
The Court, chaired by Mrs. Rosemary Baah Torsu, has admitted the deputy to a bond in the amount of GH ₵ 3.5 million with four bonds, one to be justified. The other bonds will be of sufficient and independent means.
The trial was postponed until December 16.
Mr. Francis Xavier Sosu, who represented the MP, prayed for the Court to admit his client on bail because he was a practicing MP.
Mr. Sosu said that he did not see anything in the prosecution’s facts related to the money laundering charge.
The defense attorney said they will prove their innocence in connection with the charges in due course.
He said that because the deputy was a family man and had a fixed place of residence and he should be granted a self-recognition bond, but this was rejected.
Sosu said that the civil aspect of the case was before another court and that they were about to reach an agreement.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare, who led the prosecution, did not object to the bond, but asked the Court to impose conditions on the bond in order to compel the defendant to appear in court.
Mr. Asare said that the plaintiff was Alexsie Kwasi Fosu, CEO of Prefos Company Limited, and that between April 2016 and January 2017, the defendant collected cash of $ 900,000 or the equivalent of GH ₵ 3.5 million for the sale of 2.8 acres of land. at Roman Ridge.
The prosecution said the complainant reported the matter to the police, who initiated investigations and established that at some point in 2016, a witness in the case brought the deputy to the complainant and introduced him (the deputy) as chairman of the Museum’s board of directors. and Ghana Monument. Dashboard (GMMB).
Mr. Asare said the defendant told the plaintiff that GMMB has indicated its intention to sell 2.8 acres of its land in Roman Ridge through an affiliated company known as the Heritage Fund for Arts and Culture (HFAC).
The prosecution said that police investigations established that the defendant told the complainant that the HFAC, which was affiliated with GMMB, had been charged by the Board with supervising the sale of said land.
Mr. Asare said that the defendant also told the plaintiff that the land was going to cost a million dollars, including a facilitation fee of $ 100,000.
The Prosecutor’s Office said that based on that, the defendant demanded and received cedis equivalent to GH ₵ 3.5 million in 2016.
Mr. Asare said that the defendant, upon receiving the money, indicated in two separate letters to the complainant that the HFAC Project Implementation Committee (PIC) had unanimously agreed to award him 2.8 acres on Roman Ridge.
The prosecution said police investigations later revealed that the defendant was not the chairman of the GMMB board, as claimed.
Mr. Asare said that “furthermore, police investigations also showed that HFAC was incorporated by the defendants in May 2016 to mask fraudulent activities.”
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