Messi and his father Jorge, who manages his finances, were both convicted in 2016 of defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.6m) in taxes.

Jorge Messi’s jail term was reduced because he paid some of the taxes.

In Spain, prison terms of under two years can be served under probation.

The case will now return to the court in Barcelona that handed down the original judgement.

Lionel Messi, a five-time world footballer of the year, has denied any involvement and told his trial in June 2016: “I only worried about playing football.”

But in its decision on Wednesday, the court said: “It defies logic to concede that someone who earns a large income does not know that he must pay taxes on it.”

Both men were originally convicted of three counts of fraud, for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay between 2007 and 2009, and were also given heavy fines.

They were found guilty of resorting to fictitious companies to evade Spanish taxes on income from companies using Lionel Messi’s image rights.

Jorge Messi’s jail term was reduced from 21 months to 15 by the Supreme Court to take into account the money he had since handed to the tax authorities.

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Source: BBC

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Bekoe pleaded not guilty to stealing GHc 180,000.00, belonging to one Mama Tanaz, but he was found guilty by the Court, presided over by Mrs Jane Akweley Quaye after the trial.

He is also to refund the money to the complainant.

Earlier prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu told the Court that the complainant was a Businesswoman who deals in wax prints and lived at Abelemkpe.

The convict, however, was her shop assistant, who lived at Akwetemen.

He said in September 2015, the complainant’s customer from Benin, Mama Tanaz, deposited GHc 380,000.00, with the complainant’s company, for the supply of 29 bales of ATL wax prints.

The complainant entrusted the money into the hands of Bekoe to supply the items.

The Prosecution said instead of supplying 29 bales to Mama Tanaz, Bekoe supplied only 18 bales of the wax prints, valued at Ghc 200,000.00 and used the remaining amount of GHc 180,000.00, being cost of 11 bales, to engage in gold business.

Police Chief Inspector Adu said the complainant made efforts for the convict to refund the money but all failed.
He said on March 17, 2016, Samuel, unceremoniously left his residence to an unknown destination.

On the same day, a complaint was made at the Accra Regional CID, and through Police intelligence, the convict was arrested on 31, July, 2016 for questioning.

The Prosecution said, in his caution statement, Bekoe admitted collecting the money personally from Mama Tanaz to supply the ATL wax prints.

He claimed the GHc 180,000.00 mysteriously got vanished from his car after he had changed it into US Dollars.

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Source: GNA

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The convict, who was also fined GH₵1,200, would serve an additional two years prison term in default.

The court also ordered the convict to compensate the victim with GH₵ 300.00.

Anobre pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing harm when he appeared before the Tarkwa Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew.

Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court that, Anobre who worked with True Name Small scale Mining Company resided in the same neighbourhood with Baba Musah, the complainant at Kadadwen Ashiba, near Nsueam in the Western Region.

The Prosecution said on February 27, last year, from 2300 hours and 1200 hours, the victim together with Douglas Owusu and Issah Tahiru were asleep under a shed belonging to Tene Musah, Anobre’s girlfriend at Kadadwen Ashiba.

He said the victim woke up and saw the convict standing at the entrance of the shed, who poured acid on his face and took to his heels.

Detective Amponsah said the victim who sustained burns shouted that Anobre had poured acid on him, compelling two witnesses to come to his aid.

He said Owusu and Tahiru then followed the convict to his place of abode, but he was not there.
He said the convict was apprehended from his hideout and the witnesses sent him with the victim to the police station.

A medical form was issued to the victim to seek medical attention, and he is still on admission at the Tarkwa Government hospital.

The Prosecutor said during investigation, Anobre’s pair of jeans trousers which he was wearing at the time of the incident was retrieved from his bedroom with the pockets soaked with acid.

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Source: GNA

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Thomas Osei-Wusu, Agyenim Boateng and Emmanuel Akwasi Wusu, reportedly used a bulldozer to level the church’s building at the Airport Roundabout in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

They were on Wednesday put before a Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Mary Nsenkyire, to answer charges of conspiracy, intentionally and unlawfully causing damage.

The three pleaded not guilty and were each granted GHȼ80,000.00 bail with two sureties to make their next appearance on October 25.

Police Chief Inspector Felix Akowuah told the court that one Ernest Kyei Darkwah permitted the church, sometime in year 2010, to complete an uncompleted structure he had erected on his plot of land for use as worship centre.

Five years later, Osei-Wusu came, claiming title to the very same land on which the church building was sitting.

The prosecution said he together with two other accused persons, brought in a bulldozer and leveled the property, leaving in complete ruins, a set of musical instruments, 160 pieces of plastic chairs, office furniture, curtains, pulpit and woolen carpet.

A formal report was made to the police and they were apprehended.

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Source: GNA

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