Police investigators have identified four additional properties allegedly purchased using stolen funds from the Abelemkpe residence of former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
Additionally, two new Honda Acura cars, valued at over GHc600,000 Ghana Cedis, have also been uncovered.
These recent findings supplement the already known properties discovered in Amrahian and Tamale, including houses and other assets.
In a revised indictment presented on August 8, 2023, to replace the previous one filed in July, charges have been brought against seven individuals.
The accused individuals are Patience Botwe (18, hairdresser), Sarah Agyei (30, unemployed), Benjamin Sowah (29, plumber), Malik Dauda (34, unemployed), Christiana Achab (trader), Job Pomary (mechanic), and Yahaya Sumaila (excavator operator), who face a total of 14 charges.
The charges encompass counts of conspiracy, five counts of theft, and eight counts of receiving stolen property.
The accused are alleged to have stolen $1 million dollars, £300,000 euros, and other assets, including Kente textiles and others.
Nursing mothers Sarah Agyei and Christiana Achab were each granted bail of one million cedis, subject to verification by three sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court registrar and remain within the jurisdiction.
The remaining accused individuals—Patience Botwe, Benjamin Sowah, Malik Dauda, Job Pomary, Yahaya Sumaila—have been remanded in custody.
This decision followed a request by the Prosecution, led by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, for the accused to be held in custody while further investigations are pursued. However, the defense attorneys argued that their clients are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Prosecution informed the court that the Attorney General’s office will take over the case after the conclusion of comprehensive investigations.
Lawyers representing the nursing mothers among the accused are required to substantiate their claim, while a six-month-old baby was presented in court as one of the infants under the care of a caregiver.
The eighth accused, Franklin Sarakpo, is currently evading authorities.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reported that Patience Botwe’s father, Kweku Botwe, who was initially charged along with five others, was released based on the advice of the Attorney General’s Office.
The case, overseen by Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah, has been adjourned to August 22, 2023.
The Prosecution’s summary is as follows:
Complainants in this case are Daniel Osei Kufour and his wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, residing in Abelemkpe, Accra.
The first accused (A1), Patience Botwe alias Maabena, was a domestic helper for the complainants.
The second accused (A2), Sarah Agyei, is unemployed and was a former domestic helper for the complainants.
The third accused (A3), Benjamin Sowah, is A1’s boyfriend.
The fourth accused (A4), Malik Dauda, is A1’s former boyfriend.
The fifth accused (A5), Christiana Achab, is a trader.
The sixth accused (A6), Job Pomary, is A5’s husband. The seventh accused, Yahaya Sumaila (A7), is an excavator operator residing in Tamale. The eighth accused, Franklin Sarakpo (A8), is currently evading authorities and is A5’s son.
In June 2023, the complainants reported the theft of cash and personal effects.
Police commenced investigations following the complaint.
Investigations led to the arrest of A1 and A3 in Tamale. A search in their room revealed $40,000 USD and GH¢72,619.70.
Police discovered that A1 had given $70,000 USD to A5 to purchase a three-bedroom house in Amrahia.
Stolen money was also used to buy various items, including household appliances, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic car, and to rent an apartment and storeroom in Tamale.
A1 implicated A2 as an accomplice.
A2 was arrested in Budumburam, where she had built a three-bedroom house using stolen money.
A1 gave GH¢5,000 to A4, and A2 gave GH¢100,000 to A4.
A5 received GH¢42,830,000 and bought properties, including houses and vehicles.
Investigations revealed money transfers between the accused, including A8 and AS.
The case is under investigation.
