Police to seek permission from Parliament to prosecute Sene MP

Accra, June 1, GNA - The Police is to petition the Speaker of Parliament to grant them permission to

prosecute Felix Twumasi-Appiah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene in the

Brong-Ahafo Region. This follows the MP's non-appearance before court in connection with an alleged fraudulent gold

transaction case. Twumasi-Appiah allegedly misrepresented himself to the Police and succee ded in fraudulently

causing the Police to release 30,000 dollars belonging to a Spanish businessman, Juan Francisco Osorio

Lozano, to Juan Carlos, the MP's accomplice without the consent of Lozano .. Carlos is also a Spanish national. Following the non-appearance of the MP in court on Tuesday, ASP A. Dery said the Police would

advise itself. Counsel for the accused, Mr Joshua Nimako, explained that his client had

been absent in

Parliament because he had travelled to India and proceedings in Parliamen t could attest to that. He reiterated his application to the court to release the passport of Carlos to him to enable him

(Carlos) to visit his family in Spain. Consequently, the court released Carlos' passport to him on Tuesday and adjourned the matter to

July 5, by which date Carlos would have returned to stand trial with the MP. On May 24, this year, the court ordered the MP to report to the Police t o be charged properly. Although the accused persons are before the court on charges of conspira cy, defrauding by false

pretences and stealing, their pleas had not been taken. However, Twumasi-Appiah was admitted to a GH¢100,000 self recognisance

bail, while Carlos

was admitted to GH¢150,000 bail with three sureties. The Prosecution's case is that Mr Lozano, the complainant, arrived in Ghana to transact business. Sometime in March this year, Nana Kwame Donkor, a businessman, transacted business with Mr Lozano

on behalf of his company to supply gold worth 160,000 dollars in three tranches. After two supplies, Nana Donkor was unable to supply the third tran ch and promised to refund the

remaining amount to Mr Lozano. Prosecution said Nana Donkor contacted the MP to help transfer the money back to the complainant in

instalments since it was impossible to transfer the amount in cash throug h the banks. It said two cheques were therefore signed and left for the accused persons to facilitate the transfer. However, Nana Donkor paid 30,000 dollars as part payment to the Pol ice to be given to the complainant. The accused persons went to the office of Superintendent of Police Yaa Tiwa Danso, Commander of

Commercial Crime Unit, where Carlos claimed the complainant was sick and unable to travel to Ghana and

had therefore instructed him (Carlos) to collect the money on his behalf. Prosecution said with the MP of Sene in the frontline, the Police d id not suspect any foul play and

subsequently released the money to Carlos, only for the businessman to sh ow up demanding the money.