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Tag: fugitive

  • BREAKING: Ken Ofori-Atta no longer a fugitive – OSP makes U-turn

    BREAKING: Ken Ofori-Atta no longer a fugitive – OSP makes U-turn

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has withdrawn the fugitive tag placed on former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta over his failure to aid investigation into some corruption cases.

    In a statement dated February 18, the OSP explained that Mr. Ofori-Atta transmitted a communication through his lawyers to the OSP by which he stated a definite date of his voluntary return to the jurisdiction.

    “This marks a major shift from Mr. Ofori-Atta’s previous intention of remaining outside the jurisdiction indefinitely”, the OSP said, adding that it acceded to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s request as it deemed his stated date of voluntary return to the jurisdiction reasonable in the circumstances.

    The Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has rescheduled the date of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s attendance at the OSP taking into account Mr. Ofori-Atta’s stated date of voluntary return to the jurisdiction.

    “Consequently, Mr. Ofori-Atta has been removed from the OSP’s list of wanted persons and the OSP ceases to consider Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice pending his voluntary return to the jurisdiction circa his stated date,” the statement read.

    The OSP, however, indicated that “If Mr. Ofori-Atta fails to voluntarily return to the jurisdiction circa his stated date, and if Mr. Ofori-Atta fails to attend the OSP on the rescheduled date, he shall be re-entered on the OSP’s list of wanted persons and the OSP shall then consider him a fugitive from justice, and the OSP shall take all necessary legal steps to secure his return to the jurisdiction and attendance at the OSP at our own choosing.”

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) earlier shared on its social media platform an infographic detailing Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. In its post, the OSP noted that Mr Ofori-Atta could possibly be in the United States of America (USA) or the United Kingdom (UK).

    “Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this individual should alert the Office by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 0554494499/0554484488,” the OSP further entreated.

    The Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng last week declared the statesman wanted during a press conference on the grounds of causing financial loss to the state in several dealings, including;

    • Contractual arrangement between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority for the stated objective of the enhancement of revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals resource value chain.
    • Termination of a distribution, loss reduction, and associated network improvement project contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xhao Chen Technology BXC.
    • Procurement of contractors and materials and activities and payments in respect of the National Cathedral project
    • Activities and payments in respect of a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health initially commenced by the Ministry for Special Development Initiative to service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchases and after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 304 5 CDI Ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.
    • Payments out of and utilization of the tax refund account of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
  • See what Asiedu Nketia said about Ofori-Atta and fugitive tag

    See what Asiedu Nketia said about Ofori-Atta and fugitive tag

    National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia,has promised that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will face consequences for alleged corruption during his time in office.

    In a viral video circulating on X, formerly known as Twitter, Asiedu Nketia emphasized that any official involved in corruption would be brought to justice, no matter where they are now.

    “Wherever Ken Ofori-Atta is hiding, they’d get him to answer questions on the cases of corruption against him. He will come. All of them, every crime they have committed, they would account,” he stated.

    His comment comes after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially declared the former Finance Minister a fugitive in connection with ongoing corruption investigations.

    However, the Minority in Parliament has strongly opposed the description, condemning the OSP’s action as politically motivated.

    According to them, the move is an attempt to tarnish Mr Ofori-Atta’s reputation.

    Meanwhile, his lawyers have clarified that he is currently out of the country seeking medical care, urging authorities to refrain from misrepresenting his situation.

    However, Mr Nketia assured Ghanaians that the current administration remains committed to enforcing strict accountability measures, even among its members.

    “We will tighten the noose on accountability, and even elements within this government who engage in corrupt activities will not go scot-free,” he added.

  • Sue OSP for declaring you a fugitive – Lawyer advises Ofori-Atta

    Sue OSP for declaring you a fugitive – Lawyer advises Ofori-Atta

    Legal practitioner Kwame Adofo has advised former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to sue the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over what he describes as an illegitimate designation of him as a “fugitive from justice.”

    During a discussion on Asaase Radio’s The Forum on Saturday, February 15, Adofo denounced the OSP’s approach to handling high-profile cases, arguing that the Special Prosecutor had overstepped his legal mandate.

    “I cannot see what gives the OSP the power to declare somebody a fugitive from justice. This is wrong and should never have been done. Ken Ofori-Atta has not been charged with any offense, yet he has been publicly maligned. This is a serious ground for legal action.

    He added, “I think Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers should consider suing the Special Prosecutor personally.”

    He urged Ofori-Atta’s legal team to consider suing the Special Prosecutor personally, emphasizing that such actions must not go unchallenged.

    Adofo also criticized the investigative methods employed by the OSP, pointing to the Cecilia Dapaah case—which was dismissed by the courts—as an example of mismanagement.

    “What serious investigator announces an investigation before even starting? He did the same thing with the NPA case. When you do that, people hide evidence and obstruct investigations. This clearly shows incompetence, and he needs to be removed,” Adofo asserted.

    He asserted that the Special Prosecutor’s tactics were damaging the credibility of the institution.

    “The OSP’s credibility is at stake, and the government must act to restore public trust in the institution,” he concluded.

    He further questioned the Special Prosecutor’s track record since assuming office in 2021, highlighting the absence of tangible results.

    “We are in 2025—can he account for his stewardship? Has he secured a single conviction in four years?”

    Adofo called on the government to reassess the leadership of the OSP, stating that the current Special Prosecutor had failed to deliver and should either step down or be removed.

  • Stephen Amoah fumes over OSP-Ofori-Atta saga, says ex-minister has not run away

    Stephen Amoah fumes over OSP-Ofori-Atta saga, says ex-minister has not run away

    Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso and former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Stephen Amoah, has firmly stood by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta amid growing scrutiny.

    On Wednesday, February 12, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive, accusing him of causing financial loss to the state. The allegations stem from his involvement in multiple transactions, including the construction of the controversial National Cathedral and the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) partnership with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).

    Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Dr Amoah emphatically stated that Ofori-Atta has not “run away” from the country, countering the narrative pushed by some detractors.

    “I want to make it emphatically clear that Ken Ofori-Atta hasn’t run away,” Dr Amoah told the House.

    “Mr Speaker, I would like to advise this august house. Our actions and omissions over the years have actually defined us, and we have allowed external stakeholders to view us through different lenses. It is time we stop doing this to each other,” he said

    Dr Amoah also condemned the harsh language used by members, particularly regarding the state of the economy.

    “Some of the descriptions they give him, some even went to the extent of commenting on the economy that he left behind. In fact, I cannot repeat those evil words they use in-house,” he added, alluding to the strong criticism that Ofori-Atta has faced.

    In his remarks, Dr Amoah pointed to the achievements made during Ofori-Atta’s tenure, particularly in managing Ghana’s economy.

    “In 2016, the economy that Ken Ofori-Atta inherited was growing at just 3.4 percent, with an inflation rate of 15.4 percent. Under his leadership, we have been able to implement one of the most enviable, strong policy frameworks on the African continent,” Dr Amoah argued, asserting that Ofori-Atta’s tenure was marked by significant progress despite challenges.

  • Infamous fugitive ‘Fat Leonard’ released in US-Venezuela prisoner swap

    Infamous fugitive ‘Fat Leonard’ released in US-Venezuela prisoner swap

    The White House has confirmed the release of the notorious fugitive billionaire known as ‘Fat Leonard’ in a prisoner exchange with Venezuela. Leonard Glenn Francis orchestrated a $35 million (£30 million) fraud against the US Navy and had escaped US custody in 2022.

    As part of the deal, ten US citizens held in Venezuela were also freed, while the US released Alex Saab, an aide to Venezuela’s president.

    Leonard Glenn Francis, a Malaysian businessman, was detained in September 2022 while attempting to board a flight from Venezuela to Russia.

    He had escaped house arrest in California earlier that month after admitting to his involvement in a massive scam that defrauded the US Navy of tens of millions of dollars and implicated numerous navy officers.

    Prosecutors revealed that Francis used his Singapore-based business, which serviced US naval vessels, to defraud the US Navy while offering cash and gifts as bribes to American officers. His plea agreement documents accused him of providing US officials with millions of dollars worth of gifts, including extravagant trips, high-end alcohol, Spanish suckling pigs, Cuban cigars, and access to prostitution services.

    First arrested in 2013, Francis pleaded guilty to offering $500,000 (£444,000) in bribes in 2015. Journalist Tom Wright, who collaborated with Francis on a podcast titled ‘Fat Leonard,’ highlighted how Francis amassed considerable wealth by overcharging the US Navy in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.

    Mr Wright added that Francis had agreed to do the podcast as he was “furious” over what he saw as a cover-up. “Admiral after admiral who were involved with him were not taken to court criminally. In the US, it was more lower level officers [who were taken to court].”

    In a statement, President Joe Biden said Francis will now be “sentenced for his lead role in a brazen bribery and corruption case”.

    Alluding to the other US nationals released by Venezuela, he added: “I am grateful that their ordeal is finally over, and that these families are being made whole once more.”

    The swap deal will also see Mr Saab, a close aide of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, returned.

    He faced allegations of laundering money on behalf of the Maduro government, which he denied.

    Mr Saab was extradited to the US in 2021 after being arrested during a stopover in Cape Verde.

    A demonstrator holds a poster that reads "Free Alex Saab" during a rally in support of Colombian businessman and close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the Petare neighbourhood of Caracas, Venezuela, on Monday, April 4, 2022.
    Image caption,The agreement sees the US release an aide close to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

    The Maduro regime in Venezuela has consistently called for the release of Mr. Saab, considering him a ‘diplomat.’

    Mr. Saab, a Colombian-born businessman, was apprehended while his plane stopped for refueling in Cape Verde in 2020, following an Interpol ‘red notice.’ He was en route to Iran at the time.

    Venezuela’s government labeled him an ‘envoy,’ asserting that he was on a mission to procure medical supplies for the Covid-19 crisis in Iran.

    However, Cape Verdean authorities determined that he did not possess diplomatic immunity and subsequently extradited him to the United States. In the U.S., he faced accusations of money laundering and bribery.

    U.S. prosecutors allege that Mr. Saab diverted $350 million (£276 million) from Venezuelan state contracts by exploiting advantageous exchange rates fraudulently.

    Camilla Fabri, the wife of Colombian businessman Alex Saab, who was extradited to the US, speaks during a demonstration demanding his release, at the Bolivar square in Caracas, on October 17, 202
    Image caption,Alex Saab’s wife, Camilla Fabri, is in Venezuela as her home country of Italy has issued an arrest warrant for her

    He then allegedly laundered the money in the US before finally transferring it to accounts controlled by him and his alleged associate.

    The US treasury department has described Mr Saab as a “profiteer orchestrating a vast corruption network” that it says enabled “President Nicolás Maduro and his regime to significantly profit from food imports and distribution in Venezuela”.

    Mr. Saab refutes the charges, and the Maduro government, in solidarity, withdrew from U.S.-backed talks with the Venezuelan opposition in 2021 to protest Mr. Saab’s extradition.

    The White House disclosed the release of individuals, including Joseph Cristella, Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, and Savoi Wright, with six of the 10 Americans termed as ‘wrongfully detained’ by Venezuela.

    Furthermore, the White House mentioned Venezuela’s commitment to releasing 20 Venezuelan political prisoners, including opposition figure Roberto Abdul, and suspending arrest warrants for three others.

    This recent agreement isn’t the first prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Venezuela. In October 2022, Venezuela released seven jailed U.S. citizens in exchange for two nephews of Mr. Maduro’s wife, known as the ‘narco-nephews,’ who were serving 18-year sentences in the U.S. for attempting to smuggle cocaine.

    Relations improved when the U.S. eased sanctions on Venezuela in October in exchange for President Maduro allowing international observers for the upcoming presidential election. However, the U.S. reiterated its demand for the release of ‘wrongfully detained’ U.S. citizens in Venezuela, threatening to reimpose sanctions if not addressed.

    In response, human rights groups in Venezuela are calling for the release of approximately 300 individuals listed as political prisoners in Venezuelan jails.

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  • Nicholas Rossi: Arrested man is missing US fugitive, court rules

    A man arrested in a Scottish hospital last year is US fugitive Nicholas Rossi, a court has ruled.

    The man had claimed to have been the victim of mistaken identity, and insisted his name was Arthur Knight.

    But Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that his tattoos and fingerprints matched those of Rossi.

    Authorities in the US are seeking Rossi’s extradition over allegations of rape and sexual assault.

    It is alleged that he faked his own death and fled to Scotland to escape prosecution.

    He had spent the past year insisting that he was Arthur Knight, an orphan from Ireland who had never been to the US.

    He claimed that he had been given distinctive tattoos matching those on the arms of Rossi while he was lying unconscious in a Glasgow hospital in an attempt to frame him.

    But after a three-day hearing, Sheriff Norman McFadyen said: “I am ultimately satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mr Knight is indeed Nicholas Rossi, the person sought for extradition by the United States.”

    Sheriff McFadyen rejected Rossi’s claims to have been the victim of mistaken identity as “implausible” and “fanciful” and said his repeated name changes were “highly suspicious” and “consistent with someone who was hiding from someone or something”.

    He will now face an extradition hearing in March, when the Scottish courts will decide whether to send him back to the US to stand trial on the allegations against him.

    Rossi was arrested by Police Scotland last year after staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital recognised his tattoos – images of which had been circulated by Interpol – while he was being treated for Covid.

    Fingerprint expert Lisa Davidson told the court that prints taken from the man claiming to be Arthur Knight after his arrest were identical to those of Rossi, which were included on a US extradition request and the Interpol red notice.

    nicholas rossi tattoo
    IMAGE SOURCE,PAWTUCKET POLICE DEPT Image caption, Medical staff at a Glasgow hospital recognised Rossi by the distinctive tattoos on his arms

    But Rossi claimed the fingerprints had been meddled with and taken from him by an NHS worker called “Patrick” on behalf of David Leavitt, a Utah county lawyer.

    Advocate depute Paul Harvey dismissed his claims as “entirely outlandish” and “bizarre”.

    Rossi’s accent also changed several times while he was giving evidence.

    A series of earlier hearings in the case had seen Rossi sack at least six lawyers and claim to have been tortured in prison.

    His wife, Miranda Knight, 41, gave evidence to the court during the hearing and said her husband had given no indication that he was really Nicholas Rossi.

    Rossi’s marriage certificate was shown to the court, which had been signed under the name Nicholas Brown.

    miranda knight
    IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, Miranda Knight told the court she did not believe her husband was really Nicholas Rossi

    The court was told on Wednesday that US prosecutors submitted additional extradition requests over an allegation of rape in Salt Lake City and another over an allegation of sexual assault against Rossi.

    Rossi, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was already fighting an extradition request by authorities in Utah who allege he raped a 21-year-old woman in the state in 2008.

    He had previously been convicted of sexually assaulting another woman, known as Mary, after meeting her online in 2008.

    She told BBC Scotland that Rossi pinned her against a wall, forcefully kissed and groped her and masturbated in front of her at a college in Ohio.

    Mary said she hoped Rossi would now face justice on the other allegations against him, adding: “He is trying to fool everybody and I’m glad so many people see through it”.

    Who is Nicholas Rossi?

    Rossi
    Image caption, Nicholas Rossi is wanted by authorities in Utah

    Authorities in the US have said that Rossi was also known as Nicholas Alahverdian in the state of Rhode Island, where he was involved in local politics and was a critic of the state’s child welfare system.

    Rossi told US media in December 2019 that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live. Several outlets reported that he had died in February 2020.

    Court records showed that Utah officials were looking for him at the time in connection with an alleged rape.

    When he was arrested in Glasgow he was also on the run from authorities in other US states.

    He used several other aliases, including Nicholas Edward Rossi, Nicholas Alahverdian-Rossi, Nick Alan, Nicholas Brown, Arthur Brown and Arthur Knight.

    The FBI also had a warrant for his arrest on charges of defrauding his foster father by taking out credit cards in his name and running up debts of more than $200,000.

    Source: BBC.com