The Dansoman Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢460,000 each to two individuals accused of unlawfully disposing of company vehicles belonging to LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited.
Each accused is required to provide two sureties, with at least one justified with landed property of equal value.
Kuran Demir Gokhan, a 45-year-old Turkish national and former Country Manager of the company, and Mohammed Awudu, 31, a Ghanaian and current Head of Operations, were arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing. The offences are in contravention of Sections 23(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit who has instructed the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Kwadwo Aboagye, to file all disclosures and witness statements in advance of the case management conference (CMC), which is set for August 25, 2025.
According to police accounts, the complainant in the case is Mehmet Talat Tanfer, the Chief Executive Officer of LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited, who reported the matter to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra on February 19, 2025.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred on or before January 9, 2025, when the accused persons allegedly acted in concert to sell two company vehicles without the consent of the CEO.
The vehicles in question are a Ford F-150 with registration number GS 4680-23 and a Kia Sorento with registration number GC 2433-19.
The Ford F-150, valued at approximately GH¢450,000, was later discovered to be in the possession of one Mr. Ibrahim Catalsakal, who had reportedly acquired the vehicle after conducting proper checks at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
The police have since retrieved the vehicle, and it is currently secured at the Regional Police Headquarters.
In his statement to investigators, Gokhan denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he had received verbal authorisation from the CEO to proceed with the sale of the vehicles.
He further alleged that he had previously disposed of more than ten company vehicles under similar informal arrangements.
According to him, the transaction yielded US$30,000, which he said was handed over to the CEO, while an additional US$6,450 was used for business-related expenses.
However, police findings contradicted his claims, noting that Gokhan fled Ghana to Turkey after being granted police enquiry bail. This occurred despite the seizure of his passport, which was meant to mitigate the risk of flight.
Meanwhile, Awudu is alleged to have played a supporting role by preparing documentation to change ownership of the Ford F-150, aiding the transfer process that facilitated the sale.
Both individuals were subsequently charged and brought before the court to face the allegations.
The matter has been adjourned to August 25, 2025, for further proceedings.