Law Clerk arrested over forged judicial documents

The Ghana Police Service has arrested a law clerk for allegedly forging High Court orders with suit numbers, marriages and divorce certificates and other documents in Accra.

Henry Odartey Lamptey, 39, is said to have forged the signatures of the deputy Judicial Secretary and other judges in Adenta and Cape Coast High Courts among others dissolving marriages.

Lamptey has been charged with eight counts of forgery of judicial or official documents.

He has pleaded not guilty.

The court, presided over by Isaac Addo, admitted Lamptey to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties to be justified, one of whom should be a public servant earning not less than GH¢3,000.

The court also ordered that the surety’s pay slip be endorsed by his or her head of department.

The matter has been adjourned to October 7, 2024.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kofi Anane, led by Superintendent of Police Sylvester Asare, told the court that in June 2014, the Ghana Police Service received a petition from the Judicial Secretary of Ghana alleging that Lamptey and his accomplices, who are still at large, were forging marriage and divorce certificates, court orders, and other official documents.

According to the prosecution, Lamptey worked as a clerk in a chamber at Zongo Lane.

The prosecution said that upon receipt of the petition, the police began surveillance on the accused.

The court heard that on August 13, 2024, Seidu Adams, who is currently on trial in Circuit Court 11, Accra, was arrested after forging a letter dated November 22, 2023, with the judicial service seal signed by the Deputy Judicial Secretary.

Following Lamptey’s arrest, his bag was searched and a number of documents, including court orders purportedly signed and issued by Justice Patrick and Justice Mariam Sammo, Justices of the High Courts of Cape Coast and Accra, respectively.

The prosecution presented marriage documents, divorce certificates, letters signed by the Judicial Secretary, and letters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) Marriage Department.

The court was told that Seidu Adams, an accused on trial in Circuit Court 11, mentioned Lamptey as his accomplice.

On August 29, 2024, Lamptey was arrested and admitted the offence during investigations.

Lamptey admitted that he forged the AMA letter at the cost of GH¢300 and that he always backdated the dates of letters to meet customers’ request.

The prosecution said Lamptey led the police to his office and room on the same day, where a search turned up several documents, including divorce certificates from the Berekum and Madina District Courts, marriage and divorce certificates, customary marriage certificates, and forms.