General News of Saturday, 24 February 2018

Source: mynewsgh.com

Assibit’s assets to be sold to recover $1.95 million he fraudulently received

Philip Assibit on Friday February 23, 2018 was convicted to 16 years in prison Philip Assibit on Friday February 23, 2018 was convicted to 16 years in prison

Embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goodwill International Ghana (GIG) had his woes deepened yesterday when then the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwa Asare-Botwe , directed that his assets be attached to recover the money he fraudulently received

The Accra High Court, therefore, ordered the state to recover any assets of Asibit, equivalent to the sum of $1,948,626.65 which he fraudulently received from the State.

The court on Friday, February 23, 2018 convicted a former top government official, Abuga Pele and a private service provider, Philip Assibit after they were found guilty of 19 counts including dishonestly causing financial loss to the state.

The Court was satisfied that the prosecution had proved 13 of the 19 counts Abuga Pele faced ranging from aiding and abetting crime to willfully causing financial loss to the state and Assibit found guilty of six of the 19 counts he faced including defrauding by false pretense.

Abuga Pele who is a former lawmaker for Chiana-Paga was handed 6-year jail term for his role and the businessman 12

The two have since 2014 been before the court. Mr Assibit is accused of putting in a false claim for payments to the tune of 3.3million cedis as services provided the then GYEEDA.

Mr Pele is alleged to have entered into the agreement with Mr Assibit and prevailed upon the state to make payments when no work has been done.