By: Barbara Kumah
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by Chief Executive Officer of defunct Menzgold Nana Appiah Mensah popularly known as NAM1 to halt his trial at the Accra High Court pending appeal. The Court of Appeal held that NAM1 was unable to raise any exceptional circumstances for the court to exercise its discretion in his favour.
NAM1 is appealing the Accra High Court’s dismissal of his Submission of no Case on July 11, 2024 and further ordered him to open his defence to the charges against him.
NAM1 and his lawyer Kwame Akuffo filed a Submission of No Case when the state closed its case after calling nine witnesses including a police investigator. They argued in their submission that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of Nana Appiah Mensah, NAM1, Menzgold and Brew Marketing Consult.
The court however affirmed the prosecution’s case against NAM1 and his companies. The judge, Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaah, held that the state has established compelling evidence against Mr. Appiah, which justifies the order on him to mount his defence.
With the hearing of the appeal pending, NAM1 requested the trial court to Stay Proceedings but was rejected. He therefore proceeded to the Court of Appeal which has also denied the request on Monday May 19. NAM1 is standing trial for allegedly defrauding customers of his defunct company.
He has pleaded not guilty to 39 counts which include selling gold, operating deposit-taking business without license, inducement to invest, defrauding by false pretenses, fraudulent breach of trust and Money Laundering.
The trial continues at the High Court on May 28.
