Law clerk of a law firm in Accra has been put before the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly forging the signatures of the Deputy Judicial Secretary and other High Court orders.
Henry Odartey, 39, was charged with eight counts of forgery of judicial or official documents when he appeared before the court presided over by Isaac Addo.
He, however, denied the charges and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢ 500,000 with two sureties to be justified.
Per the bail conditions, one of the sureties must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢ 3,000.
The case has been adjourned to October 7, 2024.
Prosecution’s facts
Per the facts accompanying the charge sheet, in June 2014, the Ghana Police Service received a petition from the Judicial Secretary of Ghana alleging that Lamptey and his accomplices, who are still at large, were forging marriage and divorce certificates, court orders and other official documents.
According to the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kofi Anane, Lamptey worked as a clerk in a chamber at Zongo Lane.
He said that upon receipt of the petition, the police began surveillance on the accused.
The prosecution said that on August 13, 2024, Seidu Adams, who is currently on trial in Circuit Court 11, Accra, was arrested after forging a letter dated November 22, 2023, with the judicial service seal signed by the Deputy Judicial Secretary.
Following Lamptey’s arrest, his bag was searched and several documents, including court orders purportedly signed and issued by Justice Mariam Sammo, an Accra High Court, were found.
The prosecution presented marriage documents, divorce certificates, letters signed by the Judicial Secretary and letters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) Marriage Department.
Accomplice
The prosecution further told the court that Seidu Adams, an accused on trial in Circuit Court 11, mentioned Lamptey as his accomplice.
On August 29, 2024, Lamptey was arrested and admitted the offence during investigations.
Lamptey, according to the prosecution, admitted that he forged the AMA letter at a cost of GH¢300 and that he always backdated the dates of letters to meet customers’ requests.
The prosecution said Lamptey led the police to his office and his room on the same day, where a search turned up several documents, including divorce certificates from the Berekum and Madina District Courts, marriage and divorce certificates, customary marriage certificates and forms.
Content by: Justice Agbenorsi
