Court orders arrest of MDs of four firms

Accra, Oct. 30, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday ordered the arrest of proprietors of four firms, who failed to appear before it for failing to issue Valued Added Tax (VAT) invoices to customers. The firms are FM&B Enterprise; Kopongde Enterprise; Pee Dee Enterprise and Emily Millionaire Company Limited.

White Chapel and Edas Company Limited pleaded guilty for failing to issue VAT invoices and the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Ankamah imposed a six million cedis fine each. The firms in default would go to jail for 10 months.

Three other firms, Brenya Distribution; "Fa Wo Ho Bo Awurade" Enterprise and Sleek Ware Ghana Limited pleaded not guilty to the same charges and the court granted each of them 30 million cedis bail with a surety each to reappear on November 5.

The facts presented by Police Inspector Emmanuel Boison were that the complainants were VAT Service Officials from Adabraka District while the defaulting firms were located at Mallam Atta, Circle, Accra Central, Okaishie and Abossey Okai.

He said between August and September this year, officials mounted routine checks on VAT registered traders at the various parts of Accra to find out whether they were complying with the VAT regulations. In the course of the operations, the complainants bought various items from the respective shops but they were issued with the defaulting firms own invoice leaving out that of the Service.

Activities of the firms were reported and they were arrested.