Asante Kwaku Berko, former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery, has been extradited from the UK to the US on charges of bribery and money laundering.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced that Berko allegedly violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing Ghanaian government officials to secure a power plant deal, using the US financial system to launder payments.
Berko, a dual citizen of the US and Ghana, arrived in the US on Monday and faces arraignment in Brooklyn. The indictment alleges that from December 2014 to March 2017, he conspired to pay hundreds of thousands in bribes. US Attorney Breon Peace emphasized the commitment to combating bribery that undermines fair business practices.
The FBI’s Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Christie M. Curtis, stated that the agency would not tolerate the misuse of the US financial system to facilitate corrupt practices. The former TOR official extradited resigned on 15th April, 2020.
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If convicted, Berko faces up to 20 years in prison for money laundering and additional penalties for FCPA violations. The charges remain allegations until proven in court.