Former National Service Boss' case adjourned

The State is asking for more time to round up investigations before commencing with the trial of former Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Alhaji Alhassan Mohammed Imoro.

Acting Director of Public Prosecution, Cynthia Lamptey told the Fast Track High Court in Accra presided over by Mrs Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa that prosecution is still in the process of investigating the case and could therefore not start with the trial.

She said it is hectic covering nationwide investigations and that is why the prosecution is yet to reach a conclusion.

The prosecution therefore prayed for a month long adjournment which was obliged.

Alhaji Imoro is accused of stealing GH¢ 86.9 million from the State coffers during his tenure as Executive Director of the National Service Scheme.

According to the facts of the case, he was responsible for posting and placement, raising vouchers and payment of service personnel nationwide.

The BNI in July last year received complaints on malfeasance at the scheme's office and began investigations into its operations on the payment of monthly allowances to service personnel.

Investigations so far revealed that between September 2013 and July 2014, GH¢ 7.9 million was paid to 22,612 non-existent or ghost service persons.

The ghost names, the prosecution said were generated at the headquarters of the scheme under the supervision of Alhaji Imoro.

Alhaji Imoro has denied the charge of stealing and is on a GH¢ 90 million bail with three sureties, one to be justified.

The case has been adjourned to the 10th of next month.

GBC