A new video showing the moment Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, was escorted into a prison vehicle after being sentenced has surfaced online.
Antwi-Boasiako, better known as Chairman Wontumi, arrived at court in high spirits, dressed in a bright yellow and blue kaftan and riding in a Porsche saloon car.
Hours later, however, he walked out of the same court premises surrounded by heavy security, now a convicted prisoner with prison officers escorting him into a waiting vehicle before it drove off from the court.
The footage shared by The1957News on Facebook follows his conviction on all six counts brought against him.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, found him guilty on every charge and handed down a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Chairman Wontumi stood trial alongside Akonta Mining Company Limited and a third accused, Kwame Antwi, over alleged illegal mining on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Prosecutors had accused the three of unlawfully assigning mineral rights on the concession without the sector minister’s approval, and of running mining operations without the required authorisation, in breach of the Minerals and Mining Act.
Watch the video below:
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