Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for its handling of the arrest of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Chairman Wontumi was arrested on May 27, but EOCO did not initially disclose the reasons for his detention. It was only later in the day that his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, informed journalists that his client had been charged.
“They levelled certain allegations against him, which he denied. Interrogations are ongoing, and we are expected to return tomorrow if he is well. The charges relate to his dealings with EXIM Bank. We’ve also received a writ of summons from EXIM Bank and will respond accordingly,” Mr Appiah-Kubi stated.
Mr Kpebu, speaking on The KeyPoints on May 31, said EOCO’s silence on the charges has contributed to the perception among some NPP members that the bail conditions are excessive.
“By now, EOCO should have publicly explained why Chairman Wontumi was arrested. The absence of information only fuels speculation. Raymond Archer is a journalist, he should understand that withholding information in such cases is problematic. EOCO has not handled this process well,” Kpebu said.
He added that bail conditions are typically proportionate to the financial magnitude of the case, urging critics to focus on the charges rather than the bail amount.
“I heard former Vice President Dr Bawumia complaining that the bail terms are too harsh. I believe he was misinformed. He should be asking what exactly Wontumi is being charged with,” Kpebu stated.
While EOCO has remained largely silent, Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Srem Sai provided some clarity via a Facebook post on May 29, stating that Chairman Wontumi is under investigation for a range of serious offences.
“Suspect BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for various criminal offences, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering,” Dr. Sai wrote.
He further revealed that in addition to the criminal probe, asset recovery efforts are underway to prevent further dissipation of suspected illicit assets.
“There is also a second strand of investigation involving an international organised crime network. EOCO is actively collaborating with global law enforcement partners on this front,” he added.
