The lawyers of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, offered a plea negotiation offer, but Dr. Justice Srem Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, stated that his organization rejected it.
The offer relates to accusations made against the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman about a loan facility he received from EXIM Bank.
Chairman Wontumi is accused of getting a GH¢14 million loan for a farming project under false pretences.
The prosecution claims that between 2018 and 2022, Chairman Wontumi and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako used Wontumi Farms Limited as a vehicle to illegally obtain GH¢14.3 million from EXIM Bank under false pretences.
The charge sheet also claims that Chairman Wontumi supported an application for an extra GH¢4 million facility by presenting EXIM Bank officials with a fake receipt.
He is also charged with money laundering since he is believed to have intentionally benefited from money that was purportedly obtained through unlawful means.
Furthermore, the prosecution claims that the accused individuals led EXIM Bank to lose more than GH¢30 million as a result of the transactions.
Dr. Srem stated, “They made a plea proposal of what they want to offer,” in an interview with Kemini Amonar of 3news on July 21. “In our opinion, we are not satisfied and so we intend to reject it. In fact, we have in our minds rejected, just that we’ve not had a meeting with them to inform them of our rejection.”
When will he notify Chairman Wontumi and his team?
“So we were supposed to meet yesterday but of course what happened yesterday (sentencing to jail) couldn’t allow the meeting. We are still trying to get that meeting done before we go back to court next week,” Dr Sai said.
“They offered to pay some amount. It’s enough that we are still bargaining. Because the plea bargaining is not supposed to be out there. When we finish, we’ll announce the conclusion, but they made an offer. It’s enough for the public to know that they made an offer which we found inadequate and we’re going to meet them to inform them of our rejection,” he replied, regarding the amount offered as part of the plea agreement.
He stated that interest would be included in the agreed-upon sum.You should pay interest on the entire amount. If not, what would be the purpose? He asked a question.
Since then, an Accra High Court has sentenced Mr. Antwi-Boasiako to twenty years in prison for illegal mining charges. Andy Appiah-Kubi, his attorney, has declared that he will appeal the ruling.
Source: newsthemegh.com