SSNIT Scandal: Fresh trouble for 5 accused persons

SSNIT Scandal: Fresh trouble for 5 accused persons

The state has for the second time dragged former Director-General of the

Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson,

and four others back to the Accra High Court for allegedly causing

financial loss of $14.8 million to the state. The Attorney General (A-G) amended

the charge sheet in conformity with a ruling by the Supreme Court,

which upheld a Court of Appeal decision that 10 out of 29 charges against the

accused persons had no sufficient particulars as required by the 1992 Constitution.

The move followed a decision by the Supreme Court that the charge relating

to causing financial loss to the state had no sufficient particulars of offence.

Mr Thompson and the four others were in July 2018, charged with willfully

causing financial loss to the state, conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding

by false pretense in contravention of the public procurement act and

authoring of forged documents.

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The four include a former Information Technology (IT) Manager at SSNIT,

Mr John Hagan Mensah and a former Head of Management Information

Systems (MIS), Mr Caleb Kwaku Afaglo, the lawyer, Mr Peter Hayibor and the

Chief Executive Officer of Perfect Business Systems (PBS), Ms Juliet Hassana Kramer.

The new case came up for hearing at the High Court on Thursday.

Charges filed

Graphic Online reports that a Principal State Attorney, Mr Richard Gyimbibi

on Thursday, April 22, 2021 told the Accra High Court that the amended

charge sheets were filed on April 20, 2021. The case will be heard on

May 20, 2021 where the accused persons are expected to enter their plea.

The 10 counts amended with further particulars relate to willfully causing

financial loss to the state.

Mr Thompson, Mr Mensah, Ms Kramer, and Mr Hayibor are those who have

been charged with willfully causing financial loss to the state.

Mr Afaglo, is facing charges relating to uttering of forged documents

and possession of forged documents.