Failure to declare sources of income: 3 public servants charged by OSP granted bail
The accused persons are said to be suspects under investigation regarding the importation and auction processes of 250 metric tons of Lele rice from Thailand.
The High Court, Criminal Division, has granted bail to three out of four persons who have been charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), for failing to declare their property and income.
Three public servants, and a civil servant, the accused persons are said to be suspects under investigation in respect of corruption-related offences regarding the importation and auction processes of 250 metric tons of Lele rice from Thailand.
Accused persons Issah Seidu, (an employee at the National Insurance Commission) James Keck Osei, (an Administrator at the Office of the Vice President), John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde (both Senior Officers with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority), are facing charges contrary to section 69(1)(a) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and regulation 20(2) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374).
According to the Special Prosecutor, on December 2022, he served notices on the accused persons, to declare their property and income under regulation 20(1) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374).
“The Accused were duly notified, as per the statutory forms and by cover letters under the seal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the seal and mark of the Special Prosecutor, that they were required by law to make the specified declarations and return same to the Office of the Special Prosecutor as per Form 12 of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374, within thirty (30) days of the service on them of the notices as per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374.
As at the close of business on 9 February 2023, the Accused had failed, without lawful excuse, to return the duly completed statutory forms to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, more than thirty (30) days after the service of the forms on them,” Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng said.
In court on Monday, February 13, 2023, three of the accused persons pleaded not guilty, with the exception of John Abban, who was absent on medical grounds.
The case has therefore been adjourned to March 13, 2023.
“The substantive case against the accused persons is under investigation,” the OSP further said in a statement.
