Mould-Iddrisu Refutes 'UK Houses Story'

Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould Idrissu, who recently resigned from the Education Ministry, has refuted as, “complete and absolute fabrication”, a widely circulated story published by, The Leicester Recorder, an alleged UK- based media outlet and posted on OMG Ghana, to the effect that she had bought three houses in the United Kingdom (UK) and also, deposited huge amounts of money in a private Barclays bank account in Leicester.

In an interview with our Editor-In-Chief, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, yesterday, the immediate past Education Minister said, “…KWEKU, PLEASE, PLEASE IT IS A COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE FABRICATION. THAT IS THE FIRST THING. THE SECOND THING IS MY BOYS IN THE UK ARE TELLING ME THAT THAT PAPER DOES NOT EXIST EITHER AND THAT THE ONLY PAPER THAT EXIST WITH A NAME CLOSE TO THIS, DOES ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING FOR THE PEOPLE OF LEICESTER”.

She continued, “…I HAVE NEVER USED BARCLAYS BANK, HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCOUNT THERE IN MY LIFE; THAT IS THE FIRST THING. THE SECOND THING IS, I DO NOT KNOW THIS KUMAR CHAP; THIRDLY I HAVE NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE PURCHASED A PROPERTY ABROAD EITHER IN MY NAME OR ANYBODY ELSE’S. IT IS A COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE FALSEHOOD.”

Betty Mould, who is expected in the county on a United Flight this morning, however, threatened to sue any media house that does a story on the matter.

The publication by The Leicester Recorder posted on OMG Ghana website alleged that, “Bank officials were alerted when in November 2011, the Minister added London based property developer and jewellery tycoon Dr Sirinath Kumar as a joint beneficiary of the account. Dr Kumar started making the deposits into the account.”

They gave a break down of his recent deposits as follows: 6th November 2011 £45,000, 25th November 2011 £150,000, 15th December 2011 - £120,000, 20th January 2012 £179,000, 18th February £265,000, 23rd March - £86,000, 29th April - 71,000, 8th May - £126,000.

The Bank’s international private banking fraud unit is also reportedly investigating the payment for three houses in the UK. Electronic transcripts show the transfer of an amount of 250,000 pounds to buy one of these properties in Loughton in Essex. The property is located at 252 High Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 1RB. According to officials, the Minister kept an account with a balance of £6115. 73 at the end of January 2008.

The account number was given as 20756821- SORT CODE-20- 98-07.

When Dr Kumar was questioned, according to the publication, “...he (Dr. Kumar) claimed they were profits from a joint 70 acre citrus, mango and palm plantations in the Western province of Ghana, his property lettings company in Cardiff, Wales as well as his property developments in Cyprus.”

“The officials were however not convinced and alerted its International Private Banking desk in London who called in the Police. Some officials at the bank believe the British Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) should be called in to investigate”, OMG continued.