3 Of 4 Accused Of Failing To Declare Income Granted Bail

The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has granted bail to three out of the four persons accused of failing to declare their income and properties.

Three of the four were arraigned in court on Monday, February 13, 2023, by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

One was absent citing health challenges, the OSP said in an update on social media.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the OSP’s facts sheet, the four accused persons- Issah Seidu (51), James Keck Osei (49), John Abban (58) and Peter Archibold Hyde (58)- are under investigation for corruption and corruption-related offences in relation to the importation of 250 metric tonnes of Lele rice from Thailand.

Siedu works with the National Insurance Commission, James works with the Office of the Vice President as an administrator and John and Peter are senior Officers with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

In accordance with regulation 20 of LI2374, the OSP wrote to the four in December 2022 demanding that they declare their property and income, however, they failed to comply.

They were arrested by the OSP and charged in that regard on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Regulation 20 of LI2374 states that “The Special Prosecutor-·may, by notice as specified in Form 11A of the First Schedule, request a suspect to make a declaration of the property and income of the suspect as specified in Form 11B of the First Schedule.

“A suspect who has been served with a notice under sub-regulation (1) shall make the declaration as specified in Form 12 of the First Schedule within thirty days after receipt of the notice.”

When convicted for failing to declare property and income, the OSP explained, the accused will be liable to a jail term of not below two years and not more than four years or a fine of not less than five hundred penalty units or both.

The case has been adjourned to March 13, 2023.

Meanwhile, the OSP’s investigation concerning their importation of rice is still ongoing.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini