An Accra High Court presided over by her Ladyship Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa on Tuesday, 11^th February 2020 sentenced one Seidu Mumuni to a fine of 500 penalty units in the amount of GH₵6,000.00 or in default 5 years imprisonment.

The accused stood trial for forging official documents, possessing forged documents, defrauding by false pretense and Money Laundering.

Accused was charged with 15 offences, which included forgery of documents, possessing forged documents, defrauding by false pretense and Money Laundering. He pleaded not guilty to all the 15 counts.

IN COURT

Prosecution established the fact that Seidu Mumuni the accused is the Managing Directorof Muus International SDH BHD Limited formerly Petit Mumuni. Prosecution argued that between June 2014 and 2017 the accused used forged Certificate of Classification to win a contract to develop the Victoria Park Saltpond from the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM).

Muus International also presented the following forged certificate to the Ada District Assembly to secure a bid; tax clearance certificate, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) clearance certificate and certificate of classification issued by the Ministry of Works and Housing to procure a government contract for construction of a slaughter house in the Ada East District amounting to GH₵44.678.82.

Prosecution presented undisputed facts that the Accused used his company tendered forged official documents to secure contracts but could not establish that the accused forged the said documents.

Prosecution further established that the accused used forged letterhead of CEDECOM to sublet his personal contract through Muus International SDH BHD Limited to Via Ventures for the redevelopment of the Victoria Park Saltpond, Central Region.

Her Ladyship Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa based on the facts presented, found the accused not guilty and acquitted on 7 counts and found guilty on 8 counts and was convicted therewith.

In her judgement, Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa stated that considering the fact that the accused is a first time offender, a family man with children and 49 years old. The accused was sentenced to a fine of 500 penalty units that is GH₵ 6,000.00 or in default 5 years imprisonment on 8 counts.

Sentences to run concurrently.

Accused subsequently paid the fine of GH¢6,000.00.

BACKGROUND

Muus International formerly Petit Mumuni is a registered construction company owned by Seidu Mumuni. It was alleged that the Ada East District Assembly was involved in acts of impropriety in the awards of contract and fraudulent contract among others to Muus International.

Investigations revealed that between May 2014 – 2016, the company tendered forged documents to secure a bid and was awarded the contract by the Assembly.

In another instance, Muus International in 2016 used a forged certificate of classification purportedly issued by the Ministry of Work and Housing to secure a bid in the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) to do redevelopment on Victoria Park at Saltpond.  The accused after winning this contract misrepresented himself as the Managing Director of Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) and subcontracted the contract to one Wendy J. Asante deceiving her to part with GH₵ 228,400.00 as a result of these false presentations.

The accused succeeded in acquiring GH₵44,100.00 from the Ada East District Assembly as a result of fraudulent contract he procured.

Source: Public Affairs Unit Desk