Accra Circuit Court discharges Business tycoon and MD of Kessben for want of Prosecution


Business tycoon and MD of Kessben Shipping Forwarding and Trading
Limited, Stephen Boateng alias Kwabena Kesse, has been discharged by
the Accra Circuit Court for want of Prosecution. 

Principal State Attorney, Marina Appiah-Opare, on Wednesday August 20, 2014 informed the Court Presided over by Francis Obiri, that the State is withdrawing the charges against Mr. Boateng popularly referred to as Kessben. 

The Prosecutor who said she was following instructions, relied on section 59 of the Procedure Code as authority for the application. 

Presiding Judge, Mr. Obiri, noted that the authority cited does not mandate the court to grant the application while indicating that the prosecution
could have filed a nolle prosequi.
 
Kessben's Counsel, Carl Adongo, had no objection to the application but prayed the court for the release of the passport of his client. 

Mr. Obiri granted the application to withdraw the charges against with a trial if the State is withdrawing the charges against the suspect. 

He also ordered that the passport of Mr. Boateng which was deposited with the registrar of the court as part of bail conditions be released to Kessben within 24 hours. 

Kessben was picked up on Monday the 28th of last month.

Following intelligence reports that he was using fraudulent documentation to facilitate the onward transfer of large volumes of foreign exchange to dubious addresses.
 
He is alleged to have used his company as a conduit for the fraudulent transfer of more than 127 million dollars out of the country through Stanbic Bank to various destinations including China, Hong Kong and the USA. 

Stephen Boateng pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering and forgery of documents.


GBC