Three remanded for forging bank statement

Accra, April 6, GNA- An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday remanded three persons who forged Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) statement, in order to assist a prospective applicant to secure a United Kingdom visa. The three, Frank Tichorlo Wajule, development practitioner, David Darko, and James Anaman, both newspaper vendors, were charged with possessing forged documents.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge, and will re-appear on April 8. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Benedicta Akolgo, told the court, presided over by Mr. Williwise Kyeremeh that on March 23, this year, ADB informed the police that it had received a report from the British High Commission, on a fake bank statement.

Chief Inspector Akolgo said the police moved to the High Commission and caused the arrest of several visa applicants, including Wajule, one of the accused persons.

The prosecution said upon interrogation, Wajule admitted the offence, but said Darko procured the bank statement for him.

Chief Inspector Akolgo said Darko collected 500,000 cedis from Wajule and sent it to Anaman, who finally produced the statement. The prosecution said later, Wajule led the police to apprehend Darko, who in turn mentioned Anaman as an accomplice, and a source of supply, and he was also arrested.

Chief Inspector Akolgo said Anaman admitted having produced the statement and added that it was obtained from one Kofi around Kwame Nkrumah Circle, who could not be traced by the police.

The prosecution told the court that the General Manager, Banking Services at the ADB Head office, certified that the statement was forged. "It was also detected that Wajule opened an account at ADB, Kaneshie Branch on February 25, this year, but the said statement was back-dated from December, last year to March 15, this year," the prosecution added.