An Accra Circuit Court has made a decision to revoke a bench warrant that was issued for the arrest of a military officer accused of being involved in a recruitment fraud scheme amounting to GH₵136,000. The court took this action after Captain Abel Nartey, the accused officer, appeared before the court accompanied by his legal representatives.
Capt. Nartey’s defense counsel pleaded with the court to grant bail to their client, stating that they were only made aware of the arrest warrant through a publication. The defense counsel emphasized that Capt. Nartey had voluntarily appeared in court, demonstrating his respect for the law, and assured the court that he would cooperate with police investigations if granted bail.
After considering the defense counsel’s arguments, the court decided to withdraw the bench warrant and allowed Capt. Nartey to be granted self-recognizance bail. However, the court instructed Capt. Nartey to report to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further investigation.
The case, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, saw the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, informing the court that Capt. Nartey had repeatedly refused invitations to assist in the investigation. Despite efforts to locate him through the Military Police and Army Headquarters, Capt. Nartey had not cooperated.
The recruitment fraud scheme involved Capt. Nartey and another individual, Clement Ayomah, who pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by pretense. The prosecution alleged that the two men had promised to secure recruitment slots in various security services for a trader named George Ofori Amoako, collecting a substantial sum of money in the process.
Mr. Ayomah admitted to collecting money from the complainant and implicating Capt. Nartey in the scheme. He has since refunded part of the money, but the case is ongoing as investigations continue. The court’s decision to withdraw the bench warrant and grant bail to Capt. Nartey indicates a significant development in this complex case.
