Law Clerk hauled before court for forging signatures of judges

An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to Henry Odartey Lamptey, a 39-year-old Clerk at Aduakprokye chambers in Accra, for forging judicial documents of some High Court judges and the Deputy Judicial Secretary.

Reading the facts of the case to the court, ASP Kofi Anane led by Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Asare, told the court that in June 2024, the Ghana Police Service received a petition from the Judicial Secretary of Ghana to the effect that, the accused person and his accomplices now at large, were engaged in the forgery of marriage and divorce certificates, Court Orders and other official documents.

On receipt of petition, police mounted surveillance on the accused persons.

On August 13, one Seidu Adams who is currently standing trial at Circuit Court 11, Accra was arrested after he allegedly forged a letter dated November 22, 2023, with the Judicial Service seal purported to have been signed by the Deputy Judicial Secretary.

He said upon his arrest, a search conducted in his bag revealed a number of documents, including Court Orders purported to have been signed and given under the hands of Justice Patrick and Justice Mariam Sammo, Justices of the High Court, Accra and Adentan Respectively.

Other documents found in his possession are Marriage Certificates, Divorce Certificates, letters purported to have been signed by the Judicial Secretary and letters purported to be from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Marriage Department.

Seidu then mentioned accused Henry Odartey Lamptey as his accomplice.

Odartey pleaded not guilty to all eight charges of forgery of judicial or official documents contrary to section 158(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (ACT 29) as amended.

On August 29, 2024, the accused person was arrested and during investigation, he admitted the offence and stated that, he forged the AMA letters and took an amount of GH¢300.00 as his fee and that he always backdates the letters to suit the request of his customers.

On the same day, the accused person led the police to his office and room where a search was conducted and several documents including; a certificate of divorce from Berekum and Madina District Courts, customary marriage and divorce forms were recovered.

ASP Anane prayed the court to remand the accused persons into police custody as they are still investigating the matter.

The trial Judge, Issac Addo, granted him bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties to be justified, one to be a public servant earning not less than 3000 a month.

The pay slip of the guarantor should be endorsed by the Head of Department.

The court adjourned the case to October 7, 2024.