GHANA: MTN, e-Crime Bureau School Judges on Mobile Money Fraud & Prosecution

In order to ensure a speedy and effective prosecution of criminals who engage in cyber fraud, Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) has taken another judicious step by organizing a capacity building workshop for the Judiciary in Accra.

The workshop which was organized by MTN Ghana in collaboration with e-Crime bureau was dubbed: “Capacity Building Workshop for Judiciary on Mobile Fraud and Prosecution.”

The workshop was also aimed at enriching the experience of the hard-working Judges to help them stamp out the viral fraud undermining the mobile money business in the country.

In an interview with Mr Eli Hini, the General Manager of MTN Mobile Money Limited, he said, as a company they want to foster a stronger bond between them and the judiciary in order to help safe guard the system.

According to him, it is important cog in the machinery of the criminal justice system to confront the canker of the mobile money fraud and have it stopped.

This he said, MTN wants to have speedy and effective prosecution of the criminals. It is in this regards, we are bringing the judiciary on board in order to enlighten them with the requisite information and also by schooling them on the modus operandi of these perpetrators.

Speaking at the workshop, His Lordship, Justice L.L. Mensah- Justice of the Court of Appeal, commended MTN Ghana for taking a judicious step to organize such a workshop for the Judiciary.

This he said, the prosecution of the criminals must be commensurate with the speed with which they siphon off monies from their victims.

“In other words, as I would touch hereafter the prosecution must be fast, and effective in order to leave no room to the perpetrators of the cyber fraud that both the MTN and the Judiciary mean business,” he emphasized.

According to him, when it comes to the prosecution, the Judiciary cannot prosecute without effective or speedy investigation by the police.

“Here again, if the MTN wants to have speedy and effective prosecution of the criminals, then adequate resources should be channeled to the police and other stakeholders to train capable and dedicated investigators,” he stated.
Apart from criminal prosecution, civil action can be instituted against individuals and companies who engage in those fraudulent practices.

“I would respectfully entreat your Lordships, Honours and Worships to give priority to the prosecution of those who are entangled in the mobile money fraud net.

As I stand here I cannot tell you the specific sentences you are to impose, but as you are already aware there are several acts of Parliament which deals with cyber-crimes.

Apart from the Criminal Offences Act, Act 29/1960 and Criminal and other Offenders Procedure Act, Act 30, 1960, we also have Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 Act 772. Section 107 to section 142 of the Electronic Transactions Act, covers a detailed area of the various offences which may be committed under the Act, including the crime committed outside the jurisdiction which can be tried within the country here.

Digital and electronic evidence will be very important in the trial of the offenders. You will also have to use the Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707); National Identification Register Act, 2008 (Act 750); the Evidence Act and Mutual and Legal Assistance Act, 2010 (Act 807).

The Business Operations Manager e-Crime Bureau, Mr. Philip Danquah Debrah, noted that as industry player there was the need for MTN to bring all the players to understand the invasive nature of the mobile money fraud.

It is in this regard, e-Crime Bureau, stepped in to help combat the menace. This he said, they had some programs with MTN last year by training the police and the media.

This time, we have decided to focus on the Judiciary to help them understand the modus operandi of the criminals, when it comes to mobile money fraud.

According to him, they have gathered a lot of intelligence as to how the criminals operate. This he said, the training would go a long way to ensure the effective prosecution of these mobile money fraudsters in the country.

Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/newsghana.com.gh