Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for arrest of one of the staff of State Insurance Corporation (SIC) for willfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢334,114.00.

Hillary Kwasi Senanu, 47, who oversaw the Institutional Payment at SIC, together with other accomplices were accused of causing financial loss to the state and was subsequently hauled to court to face charges. However, he was absent when the case was called leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant. His accomplices are: Martha Siaw, 36, a nurse; Priscilla Telley Annang, 26, event planner; and Clifford Emmanuel Kukubor, 44, GPHA staff.

In addition to the initial charge, Senanu is also charged for allegedly conspiring with Martha to steal GH¢260,732.74 belonging to SIC Life Ghana Limited. He is alleged to have falsified the accounts of some individuals namely: Kubrick, Priscilla Annang, Priscilla Odofoley Nortey, Agnes Darbea Amakye a trader, Angela Agyeiwaa Gyan, Lily Atswei Ablorh and David Mensah to steal another GH¢98,313.96.

Martha and Priscilla Telley Annang were both granted a GH¢30,000 bail with two sureties, each, who should be public servants, but Kukubor was remanded into prison custody.

Meanwhile, other accomplices namely: David Mensah, Agnes Amakye Darbea and Priscilla Odofoley Nartey, are on the run. Mensah contributed to the offence by dishonestly receiving GH¢62,201; Agnes, trader, received GH¢7,100 whilst Priscilla Odofoley Nartey stole GH¢40,610.

On the Fact Sheet

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong, giving the facts, told the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh that Jacob Aikins Tandoh, complainant, is the Head of Audit at SIC Life Company Limited in Accra whilst Senanu was the Senior Officer in charge of Institutional Payment and one of the premium Officers of SIC Life Company Limited. He explained that Siaw, Annang, Kukubor, Mensah, Darbea and Nartey were all clients of the company.

In June 2021, the Head of Premium Department of the company detected some financial malpractices relating to some clients account and accordingly informed the complainant, ASP Oppong told the Court.

ASP Oppong stated that a report was made to the Police for investigation and during investigation, it was detected that, Senanu had deliberately credited the premium account of his accomplices: Siaw, Annang, Kukubor, Mensah, Darbea, Nartey as well as two other clients who were witnesses in this case with premiums and repaid policy loans, to suggest that they were genuine but could not account for it.

The Prosecutor stated during interrogation that Annang admitted receiving GH¢10,040 in three installments and on each occasion, Senanu asked her to take GH¢1,000.00 and send the remaining amount to him via mobile money which she did, but those monies were not accounted for by Senanu. He also used the same method with Siaw.

In all, a total amount of GH¢260,732.74 was detected by the company to have been embezzled by Senanu in relation to the dealings by him (Senanu) and the rest of the accused persons, the Court heard.

However, ASP Oppong revealed that Siaw made a refund of GH¢1,500.00 out of the amount she received to the company during investigation.

ASP Oppong noted that further investigation revealed that the accused persons’ malicious and fraudulent actions led to the State Insurance Corporation insuring a fundamental loss of GH¢332,114.00 by fraudulently allocating loans to the customers and benefiting from it.

After investigation, the accused persons were charged with the respective offences and put before the Court.

They will make their next appearance on August 15, 2022.