The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has arrested a law clerk for allegedly forging High Court orders with suit numbers, marriages and divorce certificates and other documents, in Accra.
Henry Odartey Lamptey, 39, is said to have forged the signatures of the Deputy Judicial Secretary and other judges in Adenta and Cape Coast High Court among others, dissolving marriages.
Lamptey, who has been charged with eight counts of forgery of judicial or official documents, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Isaac Addo, GH¢500,000 bail with two sureties to be justified, one of whom should be a public servant earning not less than GH3,000, to Lamptey.
The court also ordered that the surety’s pay slip be endorsed by his or her head of department and adjourned the case to October 7, 2024.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kofi Anane, told the court that in June 2014, the GPS received a petition from the Judicial Secretary of Ghana alleging that Lamptey and his accomplices, who are still at large, were forging marriage and divorce certificates, court orders, and other official documents
According to the prosecution, Lamptey worked as a clerk in a chamber at Zongo Lane.
ASP Anane led by Superintendent of Police Sylvester Asare, said that upon receipt of the petition, the police kept surveillance on the accused.
The court heard that on August 13, 2024, Seidu Adams, who is currently on trial in Circuit Court 11, Accra, was arrested after forging a letter dated November 22, 2023, with the judicial service seal signed by the Deputy Judicial Secretary.
ASP Anane said that following Lamptey’s arrest, his bag was searched and documents, including court orders purportedly signed and issued by Justice Patrick and Justice Mariam Sammo, Justices of the High Courts of Cape Coast and Accra, respectively were found.
The prosecution presented marriage documents, divorce certificates, letters signed by the Judicial Secretary, and letters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) Marriage Department, to the court.
The court heard that Seidu Adams, mentioned Lamptey as his accomplice, and when Lamptey was arrested, he admitted the offence during investigations
The prosecution said Lamptey admitted that he forged the AMA letter at the cost of GH¢300, and that he always backdated the dates of letters to meet customers’ request.
ASP Anane told the court that Lamptey led the police to his office and room, where a search was carried out.
The prosecution said the police found divorce certificates from the Berekum and Madina District Courts, marriage and divorce certificates, customary marriage certificates, and other documents in Lamptey’s custody. —GNA