Dan Markin moves quick to settle debt

Dan Markin, chairman of the Democratic People's Party (DPP) saved himself from further embarrassment when moments before the Police and Prosecutors from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) moved in to effect his arrest, he called to be allowed to settle his debt.

The Evening News says a source at SSNIT disclosed last Friday that as officials from the Trust began to trace the whereabouts of Markin, a telephone rang at one of their offices in Tema and the caller identified himself as Markin and pleaded earnestly for time to hand over a cheque meant for the settlement of his debt owed to SSNIT.

The source said some few hours after, Markin sent a cheque for ?26 million to the Tema district office of SSNIT to settle his indebtedness.

Markin who was once considered a powerful figure in the NDC government had earlier issued a similar cheque, which was dishonoured.

According to the source the current cheque issued on August 17, was however honoured when presented to the bank.

A legal expert at SSNIT told the paper that even though, Markin will no longer be arrested, he would still be given a date to appear in court.

"When he appears in court, prosecutors are likely to plead with the judge to revoke the arrest warrant. Until that is done the warrant can still be enforced," he said adding that the entire charges against Markin could as well be discontinued.

Markin's arrest was ordered by a Tema Circuit Court (Civil Division) following his failure to appear before it to answer charges on two counts of failing to pay social security contributions of his employees, contrary to section 22(1) (2) and 26(1) (a) (1) of PNDC Law 247 of 1991.