Tema Central MP Hauled Before Court Over Ghc22million Fraud

The Member of Parliament for Tema Central in the Greater Accra Region has been dragged to court over allegations that he perpetrated fraud to get away with the payment of a whopping Ghc22.5million in taxes due the state.

Mr. Yves Hanson Nortey (NPP) is co-defendants with his company APRX Petroleum Ghana limited in a case that Star Assurance insurance company filed at the Commercial Division of the High Court in Accra.

Star Assurance case is that the company and its owner used dubious means to obtain an insurance bond from the insurance firm in 2018. APRX had received a customs bond on the strength of collateral security that had been conjured by the NPP MP.

The fakery reportedly became apparent when APRX failed to honor tax obligations. 

In its statement of claim, Star Assurance Company Limited said in October 2018 it had issued a customs bond to APRX which is the first defendant in the case, to cater for costs that the company had incurred on petroleum products it imported for distribution and sale, amounting to GH¢10,000,000.00.

But APRX failed to meet the payment deadline after the issuance of the bond, making Star Assurance liable for a surcharge of 120% of the value of the bond, meaning the insurer is to pay the value of the bond [GH¢10,000,000.00] in addition to 12,500,000.00 [120%], a total of GH₵22,500,000.00.

“Plaintiff says that 1st Defendant applied to Ghana Revenue Authority for rescheduling of its indebtedness which said application was granted, however, 1st Defendant failed to abide by the terms of the rescheduled payment agreement. Plaintiff says that it has been directed by Ghana Revenue Authority to pay the above–mentioned sum [GH₵22,500,000.00.] forthwith,” the statement of claim said.

Meanwhile, YVES Hanson-Nortey, a shareholder and Director of APRX Petroleum, had presented documents covering properties to serve as security for the company’s indebtedness. The documents however turned out to be fake.

 “Plaintiff avers that in its attempts to perfect the proposed mortgage documents it realized that all the documents brought by 2nd Defendant to be relied on to execute a mortgage in favour of 1st Defendant were procured by fraud,” read the statement of claim.

The insurance company is asking for reliefs including; “Recovery of the sum of Twenty–Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢22,500,000.00), being money to be paid by Plaintiff to Ghana Revenue Authority as a result of 1st Defendant’s failure to pay its taxes and levies owed to Ghana Revenue Authority and which amount the Defendants have failed and/or refused to pay in spite of several and repeated demands made, therefore.”

It is also seeking interest on the amount at the prevailing Commercial bank rate payable monthly in arrears from the 21st day of February 2021 to the date of final payment.

Star Assurance is also praying the court for damages as well as costs, including legal fees.

The writ was served on both 1st and 2nd Defendants on Friday, September 23, 2021, through the Finance Manager at APRX Petroleum, Reynolds Sackey.

The case is expected to be called for hearing when the courts return from the legal vacation.