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Seven in court for forgery and stealing
Sekondi, June 12, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr Awutu Ellies Kaati, a
former Chief Accountant of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR)
and five others, have appeared in court for their alleged
involvement in the diversion of withholding taxes of GH˘1,260,87.05
meant for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into private
accounts.
They have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to steal,
stealing and forgery of documents.
The other accused persons are Forson Glover, Edmond Seidu,
Martin Evih and Joshua K. Yanney, all workers at the IRS and
Mahama Sulemana, an accounting staff of the DUR.
Madam Patience Klinogo, a Principal State Attorney
prosecuting, said an audit check conducted between February
20, 2006 and March 14th the same year, revealed that the DUR
between January 2002 to December 2005 diverted GH˘1,020,000
being withholding taxes collected from various companies in
the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis into private accounts.
She said the cheques written in the name of the IRS, were
altered to read “Irving Rams Saka”, “Metro Roads Engineer”,
“Francis R. Asiedu”, “Kwaku Enterprise”, “Jaysem and
Improved Macadams”.
Mr. Ato Anderson, a prosecution witness told the court
presided over by Mr Justice Robin Batu that the act of the
group was carefully done to evade detection.
He said the act exposed the weakness in the internal audit
system.
The lead counsel for the accused was Lawyer Kofi Forson.
GNA
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