Attorney-General rejects Chairman Wontumi’s plea bargain offer in EXIM Bank case

The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem Sai, has disclosed that the Attorney-General’s Office has decided to reject a plea bargain proposal submitted by lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in a criminal case involving an EXIM Bank loan facility.

Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is facing charges over allegations that he fraudulently obtained a GH¢14.3 million loan from EXIM Bank through Wontumi Farms Limited for a farming project.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences occurred between 2018 and 2022, during which Chairman Wontumi and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako are accused of obtaining the facility under false pretences.

The prosecution further alleges that Chairman Wontumi presented a forged receipt to EXIM Bank officials to support an application for an additional GH¢4 million loan facility.

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He also faces a money laundering charge for allegedly benefiting from funds said to have been obtained through fraudulent means. Prosecutors further allege that the transactions caused financial losses exceeding GH¢30 million to EXIM Bank.

Speaking in an interview with 3news on July 21, Dr Srem Sai said the plea proposal submitted by the defence had been considered but was found to be inadequate.

He explained that although the decision to reject the proposal had been taken internally, the Attorney-General’s Office was yet to formally communicate it to the defence.

According to him, a meeting to discuss the proposal had been scheduled but could not take place, adding that efforts were being made to meet the defence team before the matter returns to court next week.

Dr Srem Sai declined to disclose the amount offered under the proposed plea bargain, stating that plea negotiations are confidential until they are concluded.

He, however, indicated that any settlement would require the repayment of the full amount involved together with interest.

Meanwhile, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by an Accra High Court in a separate illegal mining case. His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has indicated that an appeal will be filed against the conviction.