Jail Ato Essien for non-payment of money to state, says AG
The Attorney General (AG) has filed a motion praying an Accra high court to impose a custodial sentence on convicted William Ato Essien, the chief executive officer of defunct Capital Bank, for failing to pay GHC20 million to the state.
Essien was, last year December, ordered by an Accra high court presided over Justice Eric Kyei Baffour to pay GHC20 million to the state by 28 April 2023.
He narrowly escaped a custodial sentence after his lawyers had agreed with the office of the attorney general to pay GHC60 million in three instalments.
He had, early on, paid GHC30 million out of GHC90million while the trial was ongoing. The office of the AG, after four days clear after the timelines offered to Essien in respect of payment, and not seen any evidence of payment, went to court.
The AG had written to the controller and accountant general to find out if Essien had made any payment following the court order.
The response from the controller and accountant general showed that Essien had not made any payment. The court has therefore fixed 11 May for the AG to move the motion.
