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A former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery(TOR), Asante Kwaku Berko, who was accused of bribing Ghanaian government officials through the U.S. financial system, has reportedly been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New a former Ghanaian-American banker, York, Kwaku Berko, has been indicted for allegedly violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and money laundering. He is accused of bribing Ghanaian government officials to secure a power plant deal and laundering the payments through the U.S. financial system.
The press release, available on the U.S. Department of Justice website, indicated that Berko arrived in the U.S. on Monday and is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn today before Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom.
The extradition of Kwaku Berko was announced by U.S. officials, including Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Head of the Criminal Division; and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace confirmed the charges against Berko, stating, “As alleged, the defendant bribed Ghanaian government officials to secure a lucrative development contract relying on the US banking system to execute his scheme. My Office is committed to rooting out bribery and other criminal practices that create inequities in the playing field for business both here and abroad and exploit the US banking system.”
Acting FBI Assistant Director Curtis emphasized that while the crimes were not against the U.S., the FBI would not allow the misuse of their financial system.
“For over two years, Asante Berko, a dual citizen of the US and Ghana, allegedly bribed Ghanaian government officials to monopolise a promising business deal and used United States bank accounts to transfer such kickbacks. Financially influencing decision-makers, including those overseas, jeopardises the integrity of affected countries while creating an unfair advantage to those promoting the bribery scheme. The FBI will not permit citizens, regardless of their nationality, to obtain corrupt contracts by exploiting foreign countries and utilising our nation to facilitate the movement of unlawful payments,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Curtis,” he is quoted in the statement.
It also noted that Berko is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering and five years in prison for each count of violating the FCPA and conspiring to violate the FCPA.
Source: Tigpost.com
