Dram Oil Petitions Attorney-General to Investigate Perjury, Fraud Against Deloitte MD Daniel Owusu

Dram Oil Trading Limited, a leading oil trading company in Ghana, has lodged a formal complaint with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, alleging perjury, fraud, fabrication, and falsification against Daniel Owusu, the Managing Director and partner at Deloitte & Touche Ghana. The allegations stem from Mr Owusu’s involvement in an audit related to Vihama Energy Limited.

In the petition, the CEO of Dram Oil, Randolph Koranteng highlighted irregularities and misconduct by Mr Owusu during an audit mandated by the High Court of Ghana.

According to Dram Oil, the dispute dates back to 2011 when it entered into a distribution agreement with Vihama Energy Limited.

The petition narrated further that Dram imported 16 million litres of gasoline into Ghana, which Vihama was supposed to distribute. However, disagreements over sales and payments led to a legal battle. In 2015, the High Court ruled in favour of Dram, ordering an independent audit to determine the funds Vihama owed Dram.

Deloitte, represented by Mr Owusu, was appointed to conduct the audit. Initially, Deloitte’s draft reports aligned with the facts established during the trial, showing a positive balance for Dram. However, the final report, according to Koranteng, “was devoid of all factual representation and based solely on a newly introduced assumption of first in, first out (FIFO).”

“We are therefore bringing a charge of false accounting, perjury, fabrication and fraud against Daniel Owusu which is a second-degree felony under sections 140, 210, 211, 213 and 214 of “ACT 29 Criminal Offences ACT, 1960” as the final audit report he presented was misleading and false as he concealed, ignored and gave no regard to material particulars as adduced and relied on during the actual trial and was designed specifically with one result in mind which was to definitely benefit Vihama at the expense of the winning party, Dram Oil. This final report flew in the face of all established evidence relied on in the trial and used as a basis for the final interlocutory order of the case after judgment had already been given in Dram’s favour and caused financial loss to Dram Oil.”

“The petition also criticized the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for its handling of the case. It has become apparent that officials in the CID have embarked on a silent and underhand strategy to deny Dram due justice and employed illegal practices that are not in accordance with due process and natural justice for the sole purpose of undermining and overturning the allegations made against Daniel Owusu.”

The CEO also noted suspicious activities during the investigation period, including frequent visits to the CID by representatives from Deloitte’s international branches. He expressed concern over the hostile reception his counsel faced when attempting to support the allegations at the CID offices.

Mr Koranteng further revealed that a report exonerating Owusu was issued to Deloitte without Dram’s knowledge.

“We were not given the opportunity to provide our side of the story or given the chance to review and refute the views and evidence of Daniel Owusu and Deloitte which we were made to understand they provided to the CID. The resultant decision by the officials of the CID to give a copy of the report to Daniel Owusu and keep Dram in the shade by not providing same is evidence of partiality and skullduggery as they did not follow due process and lends itself to allegations of the CID being compromised and or subpoenaed and a breach of natural justice and an abuse of position.”

The petition urged the Attorney General’s office to act swiftly to ensure justice is served.

Source: Newsalertgh