SFO denies releasing reports to the press

Accra, July 14, GNA - The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on Monday denied releasing reports on three cases it investigated to the media and challenged media houses which have reported on them to prove the authenticity of their reports.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by Ms Eveyln Bekoe, Head of Public Relations, said the SFO after investigations built dockets and preferred charges and forwarded the dockets to the Attorney General's Office for advice and the authority to prosecute.

The statement was in reaction to reports in the media that the SFO had released reports on "Ghana Free Zones Board"; "Tema Municipal Assembly" and "SSNIT's Acquisition of Shares in Obotan Developers Limited".

"We state as a fact that, we have investigated these matters but categorically deny that we have issued and released reports and/or memos to any Journalists or media houses to publish same," it said.

The statement said: "It is unlawful to publish findings of investigations, which make criminals and convicts of persons, who have not been found guilty by a court." It said the findings of the SFO were the Office's view of the facts and they must be confirmed by a court of law.

The statement said to publish alleged report of cases investigated by the SFO and attribute the sources of such information to the Office "is highly objectionable and unlawful".

"The only lawful source of information from the SFO on investigation conducted is the Acting Executive Director or the Head of Public Relations, the duly authorised persons to release any findings to the press where and when it becomes necessary to do so," the statement explained.

It, therefore, appealed to media houses to verify information on cases being investigated from the Office before using it in their articles.