Accra, May 25, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has decided, on humanitarian grounds, to exercise his constitutional prerogative of mercy in favour of Mr Dan Abodakpi.

A statement issued by the Office of the President on Sunday and signed by Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs said, accordingly the President has granted a pardon by way of remission of the remainder of his sentence.

An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday February 5 2007 sentenced Mr Abodakpi, 57, Former Minister of Trade and Industry in the National Democratic Congress Administration (BDC) to 10 years' imprisonment. The Court presided over by Mr Justice S.T. Farkye, an Appeals Court Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, found him guilty of conspiracy; defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing 400,000-dollar financial loss to the State. Abodakpi, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta, was stood trial with the Victor Selormey (Deceased), Former Deputy Finance Minister.

Abodakpi and Selormey were tried on seven counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing a total loss of 2.73 billion cedis to the State.

The Court sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment on each of the seven counts. The sentences were to run concurrently. Abodakpi denied all the charges and was on self-recognisance bail in the sum of three billion cedis.

The trial, which commenced in 2002, saw 10 witnesses testifying for the Prosecution while three gave evidence for Abodakpi. Victor Selormey passed away during the trial.