The Chief Executive Officer of Menzgold Ghana Limited Nana Appiah Mensah has been taken ill and has been asked to see his doctors.
Nana Appiah Mensah, affectionately called NAM1 was not in court on Tuesday, July 6, for the Case in which he has been arraigned for fraud.
Before the Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Her Honour Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, his lawyer Audry Twum holding Kwame Akufo’s brief said their client is “coughing.”
“My Lady, our client is not well. He has been coughing and we have asked him to see the doctors this morning. Our apologies to the court for his absence,” his counsel told the court.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Slyvester Asare, the Prosecutor in the case said the accused has always been in court and for the sake of his absence, he prayed for the case to be adjourned. The case was therefore adjourned to September 2, 2021, after the parties had approached the bench (judge) upon the prosecutor’s request.
The prosecution failed to file processes
At the last court sitting on May 27, the prosecution was unable to file processes as per the court orders.
Earlier, the court presided had ordered the prosecution to file the necessary processes prior to the May 27 sitting. The court warned it would be forced to strike out the case should the prosecution fail to do so.
On that day, ASP Asare, the prosecutor in the case, again prayed the court, to give them more time be to able to file their witness statement and other documents.
It was the case of the prosecution that, the number of victims involved in the case is over 16, 000 and therefore more time would be required by the prosecution to do the necessary investigations.
ASP Asare prayed with the court for time and begged the court not to strike out the case.
NAM 1 was initially charged with abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretenses, carrying on a deposit-taking business without a license, sale of minerals without a license, unlawful deposit-taking, and money laundering.
It is alleged that the accused had taken various sums of money, totaling GH¢1.6 billion from customers.
The State had previously on June 24, 2020, filed new charges against the CEO of Menzgold, also known as NAM 1 at the Accra Circuit Court.
ASP Sylvester Asare then told the Court that his directives were that he should hold on to the new charges and the plea taking of the accused.
Bail
The Circuit Court on July 26, 2019, granted NAM 1 bail in the sum of GH¢ 1 billion cedis with five sureties, three to be justified.
He had pleaded not guilty to all initial 13 charges levelled against him by the State. The state had since amended its charged sheet which is yet to be moved.
He is also to report to the police every Wednesday at 10:00 hours.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
