Some will pay back the money – Deputy AG hints at plea bargain in GH¢560m NSS ghost names scandal
The GH¢560 million ghost names scandal rocking Ghana’s National Service Scheme (NSS) has taken a new turn, with the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem Sai, revealing that several of the 22 individuals implicated in the scheme are willing to return the stolen funds.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Dr. Srem Sai noted that the legal team is actively engaging the suspects, and hinted that the final number of accused persons might be fewer than initially reported.
“A lot of them — only a few are not willing — but a lot of them are willing to return the money,” he disclosed.
He explained that conversations are ongoing, and not all 22 individuals may end up being prosecuted in court.
“Before we go to court, the number will not be 22. It will come down, because we are still having a conversation with these people,” the Deputy AG added.
He further revealed that plea bargaining is on the table, with some suspects expressing interest in negotiating reduced sentences in exchange for guilty pleas and partial or full restitution.
“After we charge them, they also have an opportunity to do what we call plea bargaining. To come and say, ‘Well, we are guilty. But instead of sending us to prison for this number of years, you can come down to this, and we return this amount of money.’”
Dr. Srem Sai added that the suspects will be expected to explain why they should be spared the full weight of prosecution:
“They give us the reasons why we should not go with them through the entire process.”
