Ibrahim Abdelazd Abdelaziz El-Attar, 61, an Egyptian, has been convicted for failing to register with the nearest Immigration Office and disobeying an obligation contrary to Section 52 (52) (d) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573).
Her Ladyship Justice Rita Abrakwah Doko (Mrs.) on Friday, 14th February, 2020 convicted Ibrahim Abdelazd Abdelaziz El-Attar on his own plea at an Accra High Court.
The accused stood trial with one other, Eliasu Abdul Raham, 36, Ghanaian.
Offence
The accused persons Ibrahim Abdelazd Abdelaziz El-Attar (A1) was charged with five counts of offences and Eliasu Abdul Raham (36) was charged with two counts of offences. A1 was charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, human trafficking, failure to register with the nearest Immigration Office, disobeying an obligation and practicing and operating in an unlicensed facility. A1 was charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking and human trafficking.
Plea
The 1st Accused, Ibrahim Abdelazd Abdelaziz El-Attar pleaded guilty to failure to register with the nearest Immigration Office contrary to section 34(2) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573) and disobeying an obligation contrary to section 52(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573).
He pleaded not guilty on practicing and operating in an unlicensed facility contrary to section 23(a) of the health institutions and facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829).
In Court
Her Ladyship Justice Rita Abrakwah Doko found A1 guilty of the offence of failing to register with the nearest Immigration office and disobeying an obligation contrary to Section 52 (52) (d) of the Immigration Act 200 (Act 573).
AI was, however, discharged on both counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking and trafficking.
Eliasu Abdul Raham (A2) was discharged and acquitted on both counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking and trafficking.
Her Ladyship Justice Rita Abrakwah Doko in her judgment indicated that there was no sufficient case made against the accused person to convict him on practicing and operating in an unlicensed facility thus discharged on the said offence.
Justice Rita Abrakwah Doko sentenced the accused person to a fine of 150 penalty units on failure to register with the nearest Immigration office contrary to section 34(2) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573) and a fine of 800 penalty units on disobeying an obligation contrary to section 52(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573).
Background
Ibrahim Abdelazd Abdelaziz El-Attar and Eliasu Abdul Raham set up a recruitment agency located at Achimota Abofu in Accra. Between the year 2013 and 2014, about sixty (6) persons were recruited to be transported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where they were to be offered jobs as house helps and drivers.
Ibrahim Abdelazd Abdelaziz El-Attar, a microbiologist allegedly drew blood samples from potential victims without appropriate license from the board of health institutions and facilities agency.
Source: Public Affairs Unit Desk