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MP Denies $1 Million Scam Allegation

Nana Amoakoh@upper Denkyira East Mp

Sat, 9 Jun 2007 Source: Angel fm/jfm/GHP

A member of Ghana's Parliament indicted in the United States on charges he plundered a Brooklyn limousine service for more than $1 million and used the cash to finance his election bid has denied any involvement.

The MP for Upper Denkyira, Nana Amoako, is accused of stealing the money from Fone-A-Car limousine company and two of its lenders from 2002 to 2005.

According to Amoako, also known as Augustine Adiedu, he resigned as head of the limousine service in 2005, after a thorough audit of his tenure. He wondered why the case is coming up two years after he had resigned from the company.

He told a Kumasi-based radio station, AngelFM, that he was never involved in any fraud in his 24 year stay in the U.S. He said he worked for the company between May 1988 and June 2005 and denied wiring $30,000 to his girlfriend Sabastiana Paul's account. He even denies befriending the said Paul.

The MP, who says the publication has affected him greatly, said he has informed his attorneys in the states to take up the matter.

"I am very much concerned about my reputation, I am a legislator and a lot of people are looking up to me, I am deeply hurt by this publication”

He noted that he would go all the way to clear his name. He suspects some workers of the company want to use him to cover up their nefarious deals.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in the US have confirmed that they have declared the New Patriotic Party MP wanted for allegedly stealing and plan for his extradition to the US.

Amoako, was president of the car service Fone-A-Car, when he took $700,000 in checks from Manhattan clients and put it into unauthorized accounts, ultimately wiring it to Ghana, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

Amoako was assisted in the scam by Nick Zarbhanelian, a Fort Lee, N.J., resident who allegedly served as the company's chief financial officer, according to the statement.

Prosecutors said Amoako and Zarbhanelian also worked with Apurva Patel, 41, of Armonk, to steal and launder $325,000.

Prosecutors also said Amoakoh paid $30,000 to his girlfriend, Sebastiana Paul, 43, of Brooklyn.

A spokesperson of DA’s office, Jennifer Kushner maintains the NPP MP is a wanted man.

“Everything in the press release is accurate. We are going to file an extradition request through the Department of Justice,” she disclosed to JOYFM



A member of Ghana's Parliament indicted in the United States on charges he plundered a Brooklyn limousine service for more than $1 million and used the cash to finance his election bid has denied any involvement.

The MP for Upper Denkyira, Nana Amoako, is accused of stealing the money from Fone-A-Car limousine company and two of its lenders from 2002 to 2005.

According to Amoako, also known as Augustine Adiedu, he resigned as head of the limousine service in 2005, after a thorough audit of his tenure. He wondered why the case is coming up two years after he had resigned from the company.

He told a Kumasi-based radio station, AngelFM, that he was never involved in any fraud in his 24 year stay in the U.S. He said he worked for the company between May 1988 and June 2005 and denied wiring $30,000 to his girlfriend Sabastiana Paul's account. He even denies befriending the said Paul.

The MP, who says the publication has affected him greatly, said he has informed his attorneys in the states to take up the matter.

"I am very much concerned about my reputation, I am a legislator and a lot of people are looking up to me, I am deeply hurt by this publication”

He noted that he would go all the way to clear his name. He suspects some workers of the company want to use him to cover up their nefarious deals.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in the US have confirmed that they have declared the New Patriotic Party MP wanted for allegedly stealing and plan for his extradition to the US.

Amoako, was president of the car service Fone-A-Car, when he took $700,000 in checks from Manhattan clients and put it into unauthorized accounts, ultimately wiring it to Ghana, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

Amoako was assisted in the scam by Nick Zarbhanelian, a Fort Lee, N.J., resident who allegedly served as the company's chief financial officer, according to the statement.

Prosecutors said Amoako and Zarbhanelian also worked with Apurva Patel, 41, of Armonk, to steal and launder $325,000.

Prosecutors also said Amoakoh paid $30,000 to his girlfriend, Sebastiana Paul, 43, of Brooklyn.

A spokesperson of DA’s office, Jennifer Kushner maintains the NPP MP is a wanted man.

“Everything in the press release is accurate. We are going to file an extradition request through the Department of Justice,” she disclosed to JOYFM



Source: Angel fm/jfm/GHP
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