An Accra High Court has prohibited William Ato Essien, Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Capital Bank from holding any key position in any bank or financial institution.
The court, however, suspended Essien’s Custodial sentence.
This was after the court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, had accepted an agreement between Essien and the state in relation to Section 35 of the Courts Act.
Section 35 of the Courts Act allows a party to pay or refund money stolen from the state with interest. It also affords the accused from doing jail term when found guilty.
Delivering its Judgement in the defunct Capital Bank scandal, the court convicted Essien on his own plea on 16 counts of conspiracy to steal, stealing and money laundering.
“The accused shall pay GHC 90 million cedis restitution within one year as stated in the agreement,” the court said.
According to the court, Essien had earlier paid GHC30 million cedis to the state and was expected to pay an outstanding amount of GHC60 million in three instalments of GHC20 million on April 20, 2023, August 31, 2023, and December 15, 2023.
The court held that if Essien’s failed to pay any of the amount, “he shall be produced before the court for him to be sentenced.”
“If you default in the payment of the first payment, the prosecution will produce him for sentence,” it added.
The court further directed the Registrar of the Court not to release Essien’s passport to him until the completion of his payments.
“Mr. Essien you are a businessman, you are to pay the amount,” the court said.
Mr. Essien in response to the court, said, “My Lord I am most grateful.”
Essien’s accomplices namely Tetteh Nettey, Managing Director of MS Management Service, a company allegedly established by Essien and Rev. Fitzgerald Odonkor, former Managing Director of Capital Bank were acquitted and discharged by the court.
It found them not guilty on the various charges of abetment of crime, conspiracy to steal and stealing and ordered the Registrar of the court to release their passports to them.
Rev. Odonkor said he was grateful to God.
In the case of Mr Nettey, he told journalists that he did not expect to go back to his home after the judgement.
The state put the accused persons on trial for their alleged roles, which led to the collapse of Capital Bank in 2016.
They were said to have misappropriated GHC620 million liquidity support offered by the Bank of Ghana to Capital Bank.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the various charges of money laundering, conspiracy to steal, stealing, and abetment of crime, among others.
The state during the over three-year trial called 17 witnesses to make their case.
The accused persons, after closing their case, filed a submission of no case but the court upheld it in respect of Madam Kate Quartey Papafio, a businessperson.
It, however, called on Essien, Nettey and Odonkor to open their defence.
Latest Stories
-
Election 2024: This is not the outcome NPP hoped for – Stephen Ntim
2 hours -
Ghanaian comedy shows held in 2024
8 hours -
Hohoe MP-elect vows to weaken NPP’s influence ahead of future elections
8 hours -
Women of Valour heads to Paris in 2025
9 hours -
Joseph Keys releases new single ‘Yonko Pa’
9 hours -
Human rights court declares New Nation School’s treatment of students as harsh
9 hours -
Polo Beach Club defies injunction on Dec. 22; noise concerns raised
10 hours -
I wish new leaders strength to rule Ghana – Akufo-Addo
10 hours -
Joseph Paintsil reflects on a stellar debut season with LA Galaxy
10 hours -
I urge security to take firm stance against post-election violence – Akufo-Addo
11 hours -
Akufo-Addo delivers Christmas message in final yuletide address to Ghanaians
11 hours -
Onion costs shoot up as traders lament scarcity of commodity
11 hours -
Registration for MPs-elect to begin on December 25
11 hours -
EC calls for stakeholders’ support to complete electoral processes
12 hours -
Ghana Shippers Authority addresses Tema port delays, assures of efforts to resolve challenges
12 hours