The trial of Prince Kofi Amoabeng, former Chief Executive Officer of UT Bank, who has been charged with stealing and money laundering, has been adjourned to February 5.
The adjournment came after the court directed the prosecution to provide all documents that it intends to rely on for the trial to Amoabeng or his lawyer.
Amoabeng, who was first arraigned in court on January 14 this year has denied the charges of stealing and laundering GH¢51,334,338.00 and $8.6 million. The court, presided over by Mr. Emmanuel M. Essandoh, had admitted him to bail in the sum of GH¢110 million with two sureties. The sureties, according to the court, should be public servants earning not less than GH¢2,000.00.
The court further ordered the former UT bank boss to deposit his travelling documents with the Court’s Registry and to report to the police every Monday and Friday.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Nyamekye had earlier said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) received a report from the PriceWaterhouse and Coopers through the Bank of Ghana into suspicious transactions relating to UT bank. According to the prosecution, UT Bank engaged in some off-balance sheet transactions log, issuing investment certificates to investors in the name of the bank. The prosecution said the amounts totaling GH¢51,334,387 and $8,612,829 were later transferred to UT Holdings.
The prosecution said it was disclosed that UT Bank though issued investment certificates in the name of the bank the amounts were never credited to the customers’ account of the bank but transferred to UT Holdings.
According to prosecution, it was further revealed that the customers’ monies were with UT Holdings and that most of the investment with UT Bank were however absorbed by Ghana Commercial Bank as part of the takeover of UT Bank in 2017.
The prosecution said the rates of interest issued to each investor varied and was subject to negotiation. The prosecution said investigations also revealed that 15 transactions were identified in respect of 12 institutions whose funds sum up to GH¢51,334, 387.00 and $8,612,829.33 with UT Holdings.
