Court issues warrant for arrest of bank official who allegedly connived to steal $550,000

A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of a bank official who allegedly connived with a businessman to steal $550,000 from his employers.

The suspect, Kelvin Kwesi Koomson, 33 years, failed to appear before an Accra Circuit Court when the case was called, and hence the warrant.

His accomplice, businessman Kwabena Boadi Adakwah, on the other hand, was in court and was admitted to a bail sum of GH¢3.5 million with three sureties to be justified.

The businessman who is the director of Links Field Ridge Reality Limited pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.

The facts of the case according to the prosecution is that on January 7, 2016, Mr Adakwah approached Koomson at the banking hall and requested for bank guarantees to be issued on behalf of Links Field Ridge Reality Limited as security for a credit facility.

The accused was requested to deposit cash in the sum of $550,000 as collateral, as part of the required processes.

He reportedly went to MET Capital Group Limited to seek help, and the money was quickly transferred into his account on January 8, 2016.

The accused was, however, to refund the money to the company should the transaction for the credit facility fail or the bank guarantee expire.

But when the transaction did not materialise, Adakwah secretly went to Koomson and with the consent of Koomson, the money was withdrawn, which they utilised.

The prosecution said the Bank, upon realising that the money had been withdrawn, summoned Koomson, who failed to give any tangible reason for what had happened.

Mr Lukman Ibrahim, an official at the head office of the Bank, in Accra, reported the matter to the police.

On November 28, 2019, Adakwah was arrested and during interrogation, he mentioned Koomson, who was also picked up to assist with investigations.

The matter has been adjourned to October 26, 2021.

The court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah, also ordered state prosecution to serve the accused with their disclosures before the next court date.