By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba
Lawyer Owusu Juanah and his accomplice, Mr. Victor
Amoah who were facing charges relating to aiding money laundering activities were
full of joy yesterday when they were discharged by an Accra Fast Track High
Court (Financial and Economic Crime Division).
They were
discharged after the court heard that Nana Kwaku Agyei, the third accused
person in the case had died last Sunday evening.
The decision of the court was after the Economic and
Organized Crime Office (EOCO) it desire to discontinue with the matter
following the death of Nana Agyei.
Immediately after the pronouncement by the court
presided over by Mr. Justice John Ajet-Nasam, family members and associates of
the two mobbed them amidst waving of handkerchiefs.
However, Mr. Edward Cudjoe, counsel for EOCO told
journalist after court proceedings that, though the two other accused persons
have been discharged, the state may consider fresh charges against them since
they have not been acquitted.
He said the EOCO would seek advice from the Attorney
General on the issues, stressing that the two were discharges based on the
legal procedural following the death of the third accused person, Nana Ageyi.
Lawyer Charles Owusu Juanah ,Mr. Victor Amoah and Nana Kwaku Agyei (deceased ) were
arrested and charged with two
counts of conspiracy and aiding and abetting money laundering activities, which
they all pleaded not guilty and were
granted bail in the sum of $4 million
with two sureties, one of which to be justified.
They were
accused of obtaining, through money laundering activities, $3.5 million from a
Dubai-based businessman, Mohammed Shafiq, who is the Chief Executive Officer of
Jampur Group, and his agents.
Juanah, who is alleged to be the principal architect, is said to have collected the $3.5 million from the GT Bank headquarters about 9:45 p.m. on November 17, 2011 after luring Mr Shafiq and his agents into the country to establish business dealings in gold.
The prosecution case was that when Mr. Shafiq and his agents arrived in Ghana, they were told that the gold had been lodged in a vault at the SG-SSB Bank and were made to pay $3.5 million before it would be released.
It said the money was lodged in an account at the Abeka branch of the GT Bank and the alleged gold subsequently handed over to the buyers.
But when Mr. Shafiq and his agents decided to verify the authenticity of the 135 kilogrammes of gold, after it had been delivered; only five kilogrammes was found to be authentic.
The prosecution further stated that, when Mr. Shafiq and his agents complained and threatened to lodge a complaint with the police, Juanah allegedly warned them not to dare, as they would be incarcerated for transacting an illegitimate business as illegal immigrants.
It said Mr. Shafiq and his agents quickly left the country for Dubai and were advised to lodge a complaint with the National Security, which referred the matter to EOCO.
Investigations later revealed that lawyer Juanah drafted the contract agreement for the transactions and acted as solicitor for both the buyer and the seller, while Amoah, a friend of Juanah and Agyei, acted as consultant to Mr. Shafiq and his agents.
Juanah, who is alleged to be the principal architect, is said to have collected the $3.5 million from the GT Bank headquarters about 9:45 p.m. on November 17, 2011 after luring Mr Shafiq and his agents into the country to establish business dealings in gold.
The prosecution case was that when Mr. Shafiq and his agents arrived in Ghana, they were told that the gold had been lodged in a vault at the SG-SSB Bank and were made to pay $3.5 million before it would be released.
It said the money was lodged in an account at the Abeka branch of the GT Bank and the alleged gold subsequently handed over to the buyers.
But when Mr. Shafiq and his agents decided to verify the authenticity of the 135 kilogrammes of gold, after it had been delivered; only five kilogrammes was found to be authentic.
The prosecution further stated that, when Mr. Shafiq and his agents complained and threatened to lodge a complaint with the police, Juanah allegedly warned them not to dare, as they would be incarcerated for transacting an illegitimate business as illegal immigrants.
It said Mr. Shafiq and his agents quickly left the country for Dubai and were advised to lodge a complaint with the National Security, which referred the matter to EOCO.
Investigations later revealed that lawyer Juanah drafted the contract agreement for the transactions and acted as solicitor for both the buyer and the seller, while Amoah, a friend of Juanah and Agyei, acted as consultant to Mr. Shafiq and his agents.
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