By:Kenneth Appiah Bani.
A former contract staff of Absa Bank, Emmanuel Sakyi Afriyie, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor by the High Court in Accra for stealing over GH₵1.2 million from customer accounts.
Afriyie, who was charged alongside a university student, Cecil Nyamesem Agyarkwa, was found guilty of tampering with customer Visa Cards and fraudulently withdrawing the stolen amount.
Arrest at Kotoka International Airport
The convict was arrested on June 4, 2023, at Kotoka International Airport, along with his girlfriend, while attempting to flee to Dubai after the fraudulent transactions.
At the time of the crime in 2023, Afriyie was 25 years old. Now 27, he denied the charges, leading to a full trial. The court found him guilty and sentenced him accordingly.
Sentencing Details
Justice Ruby Aryeetey sentenced Afriyie to:
5 years for fraudulent electronic fund transfer under Section 122 of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772).
10 years for seven counts of stealing under Section 107(a) of Act 772.
5 years for six counts of unauthorized interference with electronic records under Section 125 of Act 772.
5 years each for money laundering under Section 1(2)(a)(i) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).
The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Afriyie will serve a maximum of 10 years.
Meanwhile, Agyarkwa, who was also charged with conspiracy to steal, was acquitted and discharged after the court ruled that the prosecution failed to link him to the crime.
Failed Plea Bargain Request.
After Afriyie’s conviction, his lawyer attempted to initiate plea bargaining, but Chief State Attorney Stella Ohene Appiah opposed the request, stating that plea bargaining is not possible after conviction.
Instead, Afriyie’s lawyer pleaded for a reduced sentence, citing that his client is a father who has never seen his child and has been in custody since June 4, 2023 without bail.
Prosecution Pushes for Harsher Sentence.
The prosecution, led by Ms. Appiah, argued that Afriyie did not deserve leniency, highlighting that:
He stole the credentials of his colleagues to commit fraud, putting them at risk.
He attempted to flee the country before his arrest.
Despite overwhelming evidence, including CCTV footage, he refused to admit guilt or seek plea bargaining before trial.
His actions caused a financial loss of nearly GH₵1.2 million to Absa Bank.
The prosecution urged the court to impose the maximum sentence of 25 years to deter others from using digital fraud to exploit financial institutions.
Court’s Final Decision.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Aryeetey acknowledged that Afriyie was a young father and had spent two years in custody. However, given the seriousness of his offenses, the court handed him a 10-year custodial sentence for stealing.
Details of the Fraudulent Transactions.
According to court documents, the complainant, Nana Addo Ampem-Darko, Head of Fraud Detection and Operations at Absa Bank Ghana, initiated the investigation.
Afriyie, employed by Absa Bank as a Processing Officer in February 2022, gained access to customer accounts and manipulated banking systems to divert funds.
Between April and May 2023, he transferred over GH₵1.2 million from multiple customers’ accounts to various accomplices. His fraudulent transactions included:
GH₵90,000 to Rhoda Abena Gransimaa Panyin Quansah’s Cal Bank and Fidelity Bank accounts.
GH₵180,000 to an account named AE iShop at Cal Bank.
GH₵30,000 each to several accomplices’ accounts at Cal Bank, GT Bank, Fidelity Bank, and Ecobank.
On May 9, 2023, Afriyie illegally changed the contact numbers linked to 11 high-profile customer accounts, including that of a former IGP, a pastor, and other senior clients. He then set up internet and mobile banking access on those accounts to facilitate further fraudulent withdrawals.
Escape Attempt and Arrest.
While under investigation, Afriyie resigned from the bank on May 31, 2023, raising suspicions. On June 4, 2023, he attempted to flee Ghana to Dubai with his girlfriend, Ivy Okertchiri, but was intercepted at Kotoka International Airport by the Ghana Immigration Service and handed over to the police.
In conclusion Afriyie’s conviction and sentencing mark a significant victory for financial crime enforcement in Ghana. The case highlights the rising threat of digital fraud in the banking sector and serves as a warning to employees who attempt to exploit digital banking systems for personal gain.
