Court directs NAM1 to file submission of no case as prosecution closes its case

The prosecution handling the case in which Menzgold CEO Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) is standing trial for defrauding customers has closed their case.

This was after calling eight witnesses to make their case. ASP Charles Nyarko, the investigator, was the 8th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial.

Following the closure of the case, the Accra High Court has ordered NAM1’s defence team led by Kwame Boafo Akuffo to file their submission of no case by April 15, 2024.

The defence team had earlier informed the court of their intention to file a submission of no case.

In legal terms, a submission of no case, also known as a motion for a directed verdict, is a procedural move made by the defence in a criminal trial.

It asserts that the prosecution has failed to present sufficient evidence to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Essentially, the defence argues that even if the evidence presented by the prosecution is accepted as accurate, it is legally insufficient to support a conviction.

If the court grants the submission of no case, the case against the defendant is dismissed, and they are acquitted of the charges.

If the submission is denied, the trial continues, and the defence must present its case.

The court also ordered the prosecution to file their reply to the submission of no case on/before May 6, 2024.

Mr Mensah, popularly known as NAM1 and two of his companies – Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult Ghana Limited have been charged with 39 counts of selling gold without a license, operating a deposit-taking business, inducement to invest, defrauding by false pretence, fraudulent breach of trust and money laundering.

Per the facts, between 2016 and 2018, the accused persons allegedly defrauded customers of various sums of money, totalling GH¢340,835,650.

NAM1 has since pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is on GH¢500 million bail.