Proofed Assembly Member in court for allegedly stealing ECG meters
The Assembly Member for Damfa, in the Greater Accra Region, Charles Kotei, has appeared before the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly selling meters belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
With him in the dock was Foster Moore, a self-styled businessman.
The prosecution said the two accused had been selling ECG meters in Damfa, Adenta and East Legon, and also assisted buyers to install them.
The accused have been charged with intentionally interfering with ECG supplier distribution system, meter or any equipment and having in their possession stolen property (ECG Meter).
Moore and Kotei have pleaded not guilty.Moore was earlier on remanded into police custody by the same court two weeks ago.
When the facts and charges were amended by the prosecution on Tuesday, Moore and Kotei were jointly charged.
The court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah has admitted them to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 each with a surety. The sureties, the court said should be family members and Ghanaians.
The case has been adjourned to Thursday, April 27, 2023.
General Manager of ECG in charge of prosecutions, Mr Paul AsibiAbariga, said the complainant is Kwame Agyemang Budu, a former staff of ECG.
MrAbariga said Moore resided at Osu while Kotei is the Assembly Member for Damfa, Accra.
The prosecution said the complainant owned a shop at East Legon which he was renovating.
He said Moore approached the complainant’s caretaker, Simon Long-Yin, and said that he had ECG meters for sale.
The prosecution said the caretaker informed the complainant, who took Moore’s phone number and asked him to bring him one ECG meter.
The prosecution said the complainant informed the ECG Legal and Prosecution Unit about Moore’s activities.
The court heard that when Moore brought the ECG meter with serial number 141186697 to the complainant to buy, and he arranged for Moore’s arrest.
The prosecution said the ECG meter was retrieved from Moore and he was cautioned.
It said during interrogation, (Moore)accused, led the police to Damfa and pointed at Kotei as the one who sold the ECG meter at a cost of GH₵400.
The prosecution said Moore started sending the complainant threatening messages on WhatsApp indicating that he will deal with him.
Prosecution told the court that accused said that “tampering and selling ECG meters that makes clients pay less is his business and if he does not know, he sells pistols so the complainant should be careful with him.”
When Kotei was quizzed about the ECG meters, mentioned that he receive them from Atigah, but he could not lead the police to the said Atigah. – Myjoyonline.com
