By Beatrice Oppon
A Lawyer Joseph Kwow Addo Sam has been put before the Circuit Court in Achimota for allegedly forging the Will of one Alhaji Abdulai Salia who is deceased. He faces four counts of conspiracy, forging documents, altering forged documents and perjury.
The Presiding Judge Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong admitted him to bail in the sum of 200 thousand cedis with three sureties one of which must be a civil or public servant earning not less than three thousand cedis per month. He is also to report to the police once every two weeks.
The Prosecution said after the death of Alhaji Salia Abdullai in June 2021 a WILL purported to be his surfaced and said to be deposited at the Registry of the High Court, Probate Division since May, 2004. The purported WILL was said to have been witnessed by late Tony Kenyin Foli and a Chief Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba who is an accomplice of the accused lawyer.
The complainant who is also a son of the late Alhaji Salia became suspicious when he obtained a copy of the said WILL and conducted private checks which established that the signatures of his father and the deceased witness had been forged. The complainant petitioned the Director-General of CID for investigation.
A certified true copy of the said WILL was allegedly obtained from the Registrar of the High Court Probate Division and the Police also obtained a copy of a statement of the late Tony Foli whose name appeared on the said WILL as a witness.
Samples of signatures of the late Alhaji Salia and late Tony Foli obtained from banks, the Registrar General’s Department and those on the purported last WILL were forwarded to the Comptroller General, Ghana Immigration Service Forensic Department, and Spotlight Security Solution where it was established that the WILL was not authored by the deceased persons. Further investigations revealed that Lawyer Addo Sam allegedly conspired with three sons of the late Alhaji Salia to prepare and forge the WILL which was signed by the accused Chief.
The accused persons allegedly deposited the forged document to the High Court Registry. Lawyer Addo Sam was arrested and in his investigation caution statement to the police admitted preparing the last WILL and depositing the same at the High Court.
The Court adjourned to August 15, 2024.
