Judge threatens to free NAM 1 over lack of progress in trial
An Accra circuit court has threatened to free Nana Appiah Mensah, Chief Executive Officer, of the defunct gold-dealership company, Menzgold, over the lack of progress in trial.
However, the presiding judge, Evelyn Mensah, complained about the lackadaisical attitude of the state prosecutor, ASP Sylvester Asare, Starr FM has reported.
When the case was called on Thursday, the prosecution led by ASP Asare told the court that he had instructions from the Attorney General to ask for time, while they(AG) worked on the docket.
The court did not take it lightly with the prosecution’s reason for the case to be adjourned.
The judge warned that it would be the last time the court would entertain such an excuse.
That was not all. She stressed that if the prosecution failed to come with anything substantial at the next adjourned date, she (Judge Evelyn Mensah) would discharge the accused person.
The court adjourned the case to April 7, 2020.
Background
The prosecution has charged Nana Appiah Mensah with 61 counts, including money laundering, unlawful deposit-taking and sale of minerals without authorisation.
The plea of the accused person has since not been taken and prosecution keeps coming to court with excuses of the docket being worked on by the AG’s office.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in September 2018 asked Menzgold to cease its gold derivative business. The commission’s reason was that the company’s business amounted to deposit-taking, which it was not licensed to do.
Since then, NAM 1 has been struggling to pay customers who continue to protest, while demanding their locked up cash.