Court calls for action on Exopa’s court processes

Accra, July 18, GNA - A Fast Track High Court (FTHC) in Accra on Monday ordered its Chief Registrar to expedite action to provide it with the court processes of Sima Ibrahim, the model who has been convicted on drugs offences.

When the case was called, Dr Philip Anderson, counsel for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) told the court that he was informed at the Registry that the court processes were ready.

The EOCO has filed a motion seeking permission to dispose of assets of Sima Ibrahim, Chief Executive officer of Exopa Modeling Agency, who was jailed for 15 years on drugs-related offences in March.

This was after a High Court had found him guilty on two counts of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority and attempting to export narcotic drugs concealed in four tubers of yam.

The EOCO's action formed part of plans by the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to confiscate and sell assets of convicted drug dealers to the public.

With the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 (Act 804) recently passed as its backbone, NACOB’s action is intended to prevent individuals linked to convicted drug dealers from supporting those convicts while they serve their sentences.

Twenty-four properties belonging to Sima, including buildings, vehicles, bank accounts, both local and foreign, cash in foreign and local currencies are to be confiscated.

The properties include the EXOPA Modeling School situated behind the Trade Fair Centre at La; house number 1233 at Community 10, Tema; shareholding and assets in the EXOPA Modeling School; a Range Rover, a Land Rover, a BMW and Opel vehicles; credit cards, as well as German, Belgian and Togolese passports.