NEWS: Turkey Gold Suspect Dies

Peter Kofi Bedzrah

THE CHIEF Executive Officer of Omanye Gold Mining Limited, Peter Kofi Bedzra, who was alleged to have exported 15 tonnes of gold valued at $52million which was seized in Turkey over wrong documentation, is reported dead.
The deceased was standing trial at an Accra Circuit Court together with Joseph Kwame Donkor, Gomoa West Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Frank Mould, a forwarding agent at the Kotoka International Airport for the various roles they played in exporting the gold valued at $52million to Dubai (final destination) without proper documentation.
Peter Bedzra, believed to be in his mid-fifties, reportedly died at the 37 Military Hospital on Monday, August 19, after a short illness.
On April 8, 2013 counsel for the accused person, Musah Ahmed, prayed the court presided over by Justice Patience Mills Tetteh to allow him travel to Nigeria for a medical check-up as he was unwell and the judge granted his request.
Since then nothing much has been heard about him as the case has suffered several adjournments due to the fact that the prosecution led by DSP Abraham Annor had forwarded a duplicate docket to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice.
Sources were, however, unable to give more details as to what caused his death.
The matter in court was to be heard on the day he passed away. However, because the prosecutor was indisposed, the case now being handled by Helen Amoah, was adjourned to September 9, 2013.
Mr. Bedzra was charged with forgery of documents and exportation of gold without lawful authority.
He pleaded not guilty and had been on bail until his demise.
The NPP chairman who is also the director of Joedith Venture Limited was said to have lodged hotel accommodation for the Arab merchants who were in country to buy the gold from the mining company and was allegedly involved in the transaction making sure the commodity got to its destination. He has pleaded not guilty to two charges of abetment of crime.
When news broke that a plane full of gold from Ghana had been intercepted in Turkey, many observers accused the government of relaxing the processes for the plane to fly.
Some even went to the extent of accusing some leading members of the current government as persons behind the exportation and even linked the President’s earlier visit to Turkey to the deal.
Subsequent to this, the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) was tasked to carry investigations leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
The investigation showed the documents used to export the gold were forged.
Frank Mould, the forwarding agent is alleged to have assisted Bedzra to forge the documents which included Geological Survey Department Certificate for mineral sample, Bank of Ghana Foreign Exchange forms, and goods movement certificate which enabled them to export the gold to Dubai without paying taxes.
 By Mary Anane