An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to Is-Haq Umar, the Chief Executive Officer of Top Star Shipping Limited, in the sum of GH₵1 million with three sureties, one of which must be justified.
The court, presided over by His Honour Kwabena Obiri Yeboah, adjourned the case to February 20, 2025, instructing the prosecution to file all necessary disclosures before the next hearing.
Umar faces charges of conspiracy to commit stealing, attempted stealing, and forgery under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Background to the Case
The prosecution, led by ASP E. Haligah, detailed an alleged scheme by Umar to fraudulently clear goods worth over $1 million.
The complainant, Riddick Kwame Agyapong, a Ghanaian-based Canadian and CEO of Atlantic Routes Shipping Inc., reported the matter after discovering irregularities in shipping documents linked to two containers he had sent to Ghana.
The shipment, valued at over $1 million, included four vehicles; 2024 Toyota Tundra, two Acura RDX models, and a Honda CRV along with fridges, televisions, car engines, mobile phones, and personal effects. It was shipped through Golden Freight Forwarding and Marketing Inc. and assigned to Starlink Logistics Company Inc., the complainant’s agent in Ghana.
Upon the containers’ arrival at Tema Port, an employee of Starlink Logistics, Collins Amoah, noticed discrepancies while attempting to clear the shipment. Documents revealed that Umar had allegedly altered the consignee and consignor details, changing them from Starlink Logistics and Atlantic Routes Shipping Inc. to his own company, Top Star Shipping Limited, and another name, Paula Aminu, respectively.
Fraudulent Activities Uncovered
Further investigations revealed Umar had already paid GH₵230,537.73 toward customs duties for the shipment. However, the complainant’s team flagged the altered documents and reported the case to the police.
Umar claimed the goods belonged to his client, Mr. Wise, who is also implicated in the case and remains at large. Investigators found evidence of collusion between Umar and Mr. Wise to illegally clear the containers, despite the original shipping documents confirming Atlantic Routes Shipping Inc. as the consignor and Starlink Logistics as the consignee.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The containers, currently impounded by customs officials at Tema Port, remain central to the ongoing investigation. Umar, charged with conspiracy, forgery, and attempted theft, has been released on bail, while efforts to locate Mr. Wise continue.
The case will resume on February 20, 2025, as the court examines evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution.
