Menzgold boss could face 10 years in prison - Samson Anyenini

Host of Joy FM's 'Newsfile' programme, Samson Lardy Anyenini has hinted that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah could face up to ten years in prison if found guilty of offences leveled against him.

Anyenini, who is also a lawyer contends that Appiah Mensah could face this number of years in jail if only the charges he is being accused of can be proven in court.

Reacting to the bench warrant that was issued for the arrest of Appiah Mensah who is popularly known as NAM1, Anyenini said: "It will be important for example to know in detail the person who has made the complaint and the specific nature of the complaint. If you know that, then you will begin to appreciate the consequences that will follow."

"You may have defrauded by false pretenses in an insignificant amount of money and you may have defrauded by false pretenses over a significant amount of money."

Yesterday, an Accra Circuit Court issued a warrant for the arrest of NAM1 and Rose Tetteh, believed to be the wife of Nana Appiah Mensah and one Benedicta Appiah, said to be his sister.

Lawyer Anyenini also added: “The source of the money can also become the main issue and in this circumstances…where issues of the potential money laundering charge that may also come. These are labelled in our law as serious offences and for as long as they are serious offences - a second-degree felony, you are looking generally about 10 years".

He, however, pointed out that the sentence duration could be more than 10 years if other offences are determined against him during trial.

But we may get to know, because we are hearing that there could be a money laundering matter and several other issues that have to do with serious crimes and therefore it may be premature to look at it within the confines of defrauding by false pretences rather than some other more serious felonies", he added.

He also said section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) stipulates “Whoever defrauds any person by any false pretense shall be guilty of a second-degree felony.”