The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is holding the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice responsible for the stalled prosecution of an official of the Department of Urban Roads in Kumasi who embezzled over GH¢400,000 (¢4 billion).

The amount was meant for the Internal Revenue Service.

The accusation was in contained a letter sent to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament when the Ministry of Transport took its turn at the public hearing into the finances of subvented institutions on Thursday.

The BNI had been invited by the Committee to brief it on progress of investigations into the case. According to the Auditor General’s Report, 51 cheques written in favour of the IRS for the payment of taxes were altered by the accountant, Nicholas Sakyi to read either J.R. Samuel and Sons Ltd. or I.R. Service Ltd and the amount was subsequently cashed and misappropriated by him.

Sakyi is said to have falsified the signature of the Regional Engineer to aid him in his criminal activity. The BNI letter which was read by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee stated in part that just as the Bureau was about to prosecute Mr. Sakyi, the AG’s Department wrote to them to withdraw the case and forward the docket on the case to the Department.

A portion of the BNI letter read by the Committee Chairman said ‘the two accused persons, Nicholas Sakyi and Joseph Kofi Yeboah were charged with the offences conspiracy and stealing among others and arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court upon an advice from the Attorney General’s Department. Before the trial of the case could commence the same Attorney General’s office requested that the case docket be returned to it for further action. On 15/12/2005 the case docket was forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department as directed. Directives from the Attorney General’s Department are being awaited for further action in respect of the prosecution.”

While the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, himself a member of the Public Accounts Committee was absent from Thursday’s hearing to explain what had occasioned the turn of events, members of the committee expressed disgust at the event and questioned how the entire nation could be denied justice in the matter.

Mr. Balado Manu, also a member, said others had been punished for less offences and wondered why no seriousness had been attached to the important matter.

“I thought anybody who was to handle this matter would attach the greatest seriousness to the matter, and up to 2007 with no action taken really leaves much to be desired. How much took the Sports Minister, Mallam Issah, to jail? $50,000 he went to jail and now ¢4.3 billion we are playing hanky panky games with it?