Kumasi, July 8, GNA- A Circuit in Kumasi on Monday acquitted and discharged three personnel of the State Insurance Company (SIC), who were charged with dissipation of public funds.
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty, were: Nana Oduro Agyemang, SIC Manager in-charge of the Kumasi office, Samuel Turkson, a Motor Surveyor and Mohammed Abubakari Wakaso, Head of the Claims Section of the Company.
The Court presided over by Mr Kofi Essel-Mensah, said the allegation that the accused persons had squandered public funds was not proved.
Prosecuting, Inspector of Police Seth Amofa said one Francis Owusu insured his Vehicle with the Company at the cost of 117 million cedis. He said the SIC was requested by Owusu to repair the vehicle when it was involved in an accident.
He said Toyota Ghana Limited, the accredited agents of Toyota Company, manufacturers of the vehicle, submitted estimate of 193,848,165 million cedis for the repair works upon the request of Owusu.
Inspector Amofa said Turkson conducted an inspection and examination on the vehicle and recommended that 10 million cedis should be paid as its salvage value.
He said the report on the vehicle was submitted to the Area Manager, who also forwarded it to Accra for clearance and approval for the payment in lieu of repairing the vehicle at the cost of 193,848,165 million cedis.
Inspector Amofa said: “As it turned out, approval was given from Accra and 107 million cedis was paid to Mr Owusu at a ceremony organised by the Area Manager to project the image of SIC”.
The Prosecutor said the matter was referred to the Bureau of National Investigation because there was suspicion over the payment of the amount.
Source: GhanaWeb
