Capital Bank collapse: Ato Essien pays 1.4m, returns 19 new cars

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, has indicated that he is willing to pay back about GHS 27 million to the state.

Mr Ato Essien is facing trial with three former executives of the defunct bank; Fitzgerald Odonkor, Kate Quartey-Papafio and Tetteh Nettey. They are responding to 26 charges levelled against them.

He is alleged to have used the GHS27.5 million for business promotion and allegedly carted the money in jute bags and distributed it to some people.

In court on Thursday, 21 May 2020, Lawyer for Mr Ato Essien, told the presiding Judge, Justice Kyei-Baffour, that his client had already refunded GHS1.4 million of the GHS27.5 million and also returned some 19 newly-cleared cars to the state.

Chief State Attorney Mrs Mariana Appiah Oppong confirmed that state was in talks with Mr Essien and his legal team over the refund, adding that the defence lawyers provide a detailed proposal to the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for review.

The Judge, Justice Kyei Baffour, adjourned the case to the 18th of June 2020 for the two parties to report back to him.

Background

The state is accusing Mr Essien and Tetteh Nettey of conspiring “to steal contrary to sections 23 (1) and 124 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).”

William Ato Essien and Tetteh Nettey between October and November 2015 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, agreed to act together with a common purpose to steal the sum of GHS100,000,000, a property of Capital Bank Limited,” portions of the writ read.

Count two is the abetment of crime, namely, stealing contrary to section 20 (1) and 124 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).

“Fitzgerald Odonkor, between October and November 2015 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, abetted William Ato Essien and Tetteh Nettey to dishonestly appropriate the sum of GHS100,000,000, the property of Capital Bank Limited”

“Fitzgerald Odonkor, in September 2015 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region abetted William Ato Essien to dishonestly appropriate the sum of GHS5,000,000, the property of Capital Bank Limited. William Ato Essien in September 2015 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region dishonestly appropriated the sum of GHS12,000,000, the property of Capital Bank Limited,” the writ said.

As far as the money laundering charge is concerned, the writ said: “Mr Essien and Kate Quartey-Papafio, between June and August 2017 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, disguised the sum of GHS70,000,000 knowing it to be proceeds of crime”.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh