The High Court in Tamale has convicted four persons, including former National Development Authority (NDA) Chief Executive Officer Sumaila Abdul Rahman, for breaching procurement procedures in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The court, however, dismissed the corruption-related charges against the accused persons while upholding the charges relating to procurement breaches.
The four convicts were each fined 1,000 penalty units for every count on which they were found guilty, with the fines imposed on each person to run concurrently.
In explaining its decision, the court said it had considered the mitigating factors presented by counsel for the convicts and opted to impose fines rather than immediate custodial sentences.
The court noted that the convicts had not profited from their conduct, explaining that the OSP had intervened swiftly to halt the payment and prevent financial loss to the state.
It also took into account the advanced age of two of the convicts, identified in the case as A1 and A4.
A1 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and two. Failure to pay the fines will attract four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
A2 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one, four, five and six. Failure to pay the fines will attract four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
A3 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and eight, with a default sentence of four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently.
A4 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and ten, with a default sentence of four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count. The sentences are also to run concurrently.
The ruling means the four convicts will face custodial sentences only if they fail to pay the fines imposed by the court.
