Accra, Feb 13, GNA - Three persons, who forged official documents to lift 6.4 billion cedis worth of premix fuel from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) appeared before an Accra high Court on Friday. They were Nana Alex Asamoah, Businessman, Stephen Owusu and Evans Nartey, both Premix Fuel Liaison Officers at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
They pleaded not guilty to 45 counts of forgery of official documents and the Court presided over Mr Justice Richard Asamoah admitted them to a 20 million cedis bail with a surety each to be justified. They are to reappear on March 2.
The three were initially put before a Circuit Court in Accra after which the case was referred to the Attorney's General Department for advice.
The A-G's Department in turn directed that the case should be tried at a Higher Court.
Prosecuting, Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Chief State Attorney, said in 2001, a Premix Fuel Secretariat was established to oversee the administration and disbursement of premix fuel in the country.
The then Minister of State in charge of Fisheries, Mr Ishmael Ashitey had oversight responsibility of the Secretariat. The Minister also signed and approved documents for lifting premixed fuel.
Prosecution said on December 17, 2002, Mr Reginald Nii Bi Ayibontey, Member of Parliament for Ododiododo, who was the chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Premix Fuel, detected fraudulent deal in the lifting of the product between June and November 2002 in the Western Region.
The lifting of the premix fuel was done in the name of Nana Asamoah, who was not entitled to lift the product.
He was, therefore, reported to the Police and during investigations, it came to light that between June and November, Nana Asamoah conspired with the other accused persons, the Prosecution said. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Nana Asamoah allegedly forged Mr Ashiety's signature and letterhead of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Prosecution stated further that Owusu and Nartey forwarded the forged documents, which was titled "Supplementary Approval for upliftment of products to the various named destination."
Prosecution said by doing so, 4,293,000 litres of premix fuel valued at 6.4 billion cedis was lifted in the name of Nana Asamoah. A forensic examination was carried out on the supplementary forms and it was detected that they were not genuine.
