Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, a 57 year old lawyer who is before the Circuit Court in Achimota for allegedly forging the WILL of one Alhaji Salia now deceased, has been been granted bail in the sum of Two Hundred Thousand cedis (GHC 200,000.00)
As part of the bail conditions, he is required to provide three surities, one of whom must be a public or civil servant with a monthly salary of not less than Three Thousand (GHC 3,000.00).
The court presided over by Her Honour Akosua Anokyewa Adjepong also ordered the accused to report to the investigator once every two weeks.
Lawyer Kwow Addo Sam has been charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit a crime namely forgery, forgery of official documents, altering of forged documents and perjury, but he has pleaded not guilty.
When the case was called on Thursday, 1st August 2024, his lawyer Bernard Koranteng Obiri holding brief for Paul Asibi Abariga, pleaded with the court to grant him a self recognisaince bail on grounds that he is a well known family man and has a safe place of abode. However the court declined the request for a self recognisaince bail.
Lawyer Kwow Addo Sam is standing trial together with Alhaji Seidu Adams Bamba, a Banda Chief in Accra and three sons of the deceased, Abdulai Salia, Abubakar Salia and Saeed Salia.
According to the facts of the case as presented by the Prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babay, the Complainant ldris Salia is a businessman whilst first accused (AI) Joseph Kwow Addo Sam is a lawyer.
The second accused (A2) Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba is Banda Chief in Accra. The third accused (A3) Abdullai Salia Junior, fourth accused (A4) Abubakar Salia and fifth accused (A5) Saeed Salia all at large.
The third, fourth and fifth accused persons are siblings and Children of the deceased Alhaji Salia Abdullai.
The Prosecution continued that, after the death of Alhaji Salia Abdullai on 23rd June 2021, a WILL surfaced purported to be the last "WILL" of the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai and same has been deposited at the registry of the High Court, Probate Division since 7th May, 2004.
The said Will was witnessed by the late Tony Kenyin Foli and Alhaji Seidu Adam Baba the second accused.
The complainant became suspicious when he obtained a copy of the said WILL and conducted his private checks and found out that his late father Alhaii Salia Abdullai and the late Tony Kenyin Foli signatures on the said WILL had been forged. Following his investigations he petitioned the Director-Genneral CID for investigation.
A certified true copy of the said WILL was obtained fom the Registrar, High Court (Probate Division), Police also obtained from the Regional Police Headquarters/CID a copy of a statement of the late Tony Kenyin Foli previously submitted, whose name appeared on the said WILL as a witness.
Investigation was extended to Ecobank, Ghana Commercial bank and the Registrar General's Department where signature samples of the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai were obtained.
Both the undisputed and disputed signatures were examined by the Controller General of the Ghana Immigration Service Forensic Department and Spotlight Security Solution for Forensic Examination.
The investigation revealed that the signatures on the purported will and probate form did not match those of the named individuals. It was established that, Alhaji Seidu Bamba (A2) conspired with Lawyer Kwow Addo Sam (A1) Abdulai Salia (A3) Abubakar Salia (A4) and Saeed Salia (A5) to prepare the forged WILL of the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai, with A2 signing as a witness to make it appear as the genuine last will of the deceased.
The WILL and associated probate form were presented to the High Court Registry, and on August 11, 2021, A3, A4, and A5 applied for probate based on the forged WILL. The complainant, suspecting the will’s authenticity, petitioned the police. Joseph Kwow Addo Sam was arrested, and in his caution statement to the police, he admitted to preparing and depositing the WILL at the High Court Probate Division on May 7, 2004.
Alhaji Seidu Adam Baba, second accused (A2) was arrested but he refused to give statement to the Police. A4 and A5 allegedly signed on the probate form which was allegedly procured through fraud. Al and A2 were charged with the offences.
The case has been adjourned to August 15 for continuation.
Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media
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