Immigration Officer Returns Bribe

An immigration official who took a bribe of ¢18 million and foresaw danger returned the money when the person he took the money from was arrested.

The official whose name was given only as Ben has however not been traced by the police.

The 41-year-old self-styled consultant from whom he took the money was however arrested and sentenced to a ¢4 million fine by the Dodowa District Magistrate's Court for defrauding a businessman and his Lebanese partner of an amount of ¢42 million. In default the accused Alf Okoto Ababio will serve eight months in jail.

The two men took the money under the pretext of obtaining a Ghana resident quota and working permit and a criminal clearance at the police headquarters.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Coleman Afesi, told the Dodowa District Magistrate's court, presided over by Mr. Yaw Barima-Ankrah, that on November 17, last year the accused Alf Okoto Ababio, 41, was introduced to Mr. Mark Owusu Boakye, the complainant, by a friend as one who could assist him to obtain a Ghanaian resident quota and working permit for his Lebanese business partner.

According to the Prosecutor, Okoto Ababio agreed to assist the complainant and charged ¢37 million for his services.

He said, the accused later asked for another ¢5 million from Owusu Boakye under the pretext of going to use it for what he termed criminal clearance at the police headquarters for the Lebanese national, bringing the total amount to ¢42 million.

Chief Inspector Coleman said Ababio failed to secure the necessary documents and failed to refund the money he collected. He instead bolted to Nigeria when he heard that the police were looking for him.

According to Chief Inspector Coleman, Mr. Owusu Boakye was hinted in September this year that Okoto Ababio had returned and informed the Police who arrested Okoto Ababio at his hide out.