A security coordinator of the Metro Mass Transit Company Limited (MMTC) has been sentenced to 10years in prison for extortion and unlawful entry by Accra Circuit Court.
Lawal Fuseina, convict, ‘planted’ a secret camera in the office of the former Managing Director of the MMTC, Bennet Aboagye, and used the recording to demand US$1million.
He, however, obtained GH¢40,000 from Mr Aboagye.
The court presided over by Adelaide Abui Keddy said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
Another person mentioned as Bawa, who is said to have conspired with the convict, is being pursued by the police.
Prosecutor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Emmanuel Nyamekye, told the court that on March 15, 2018, Lawal requested a meeting with the complainant, Mr Aboagye, and his personal assistant, citing a security breach in the company as the agenda.
The court heard that the complainant could not attend the meeting and asked his personal assistant to meet Lawal.
DSP Nyamekye said at the meeting, Lawal told the complainant’s personal assistant that he had received a phone call from Bawa and his group requesting to meet him.
He told the court that Lawal allegedly met Bawa and his supposed group, and they said they had a damaging audio recording of the complainant’s conversation, implicating him in several corrupt deals.The group demanded US$1million from the complainant to destroy the audio recordings.
According to DSP Nyamekye, Bawa threatened to give the audio recording to the print and the electronic media for publication if the complainant failed to meet their demand.
The prosecutor told the court that, later, when the complainant and his personal assistant attended a meeting at the behest of Lawal, he handed over to him a transcript of the said audio recordings and reiterated his demand on behalf of Bawa.
DSP Nyamekye said the complainant realised that it was a ploy by Lawal to blackmail him and extort money from him.
The court heard that Mr Aboagye involved a witness he considered as an expert in security issues in the case.
The witness invited Mr Aboagye and Lawal to his office and negotiated with him (Lawal) to pay GH¢20,000 in exchange for the said damaging audio recording. He said Lawal refused the offer but later settled for GH¢40,000. -GBC Online
