The Greater Accra Regional Hospital and prison authorities are facing mounting pressure to investigate a peculiar case involving a prison convict who has been receiving treatment at Ridge Hospital for almost two months, despite being sentenced to serve 15 years at Nsawam medium security prison.
The convict in question, David Aseye Tay, was found guilty on 23 counts of defrauding licenced bulk distribution company (BDC), Misyl Energy Company Ltd., of over US$6million through deceptive means in 2018.
As the Managing Director of Renaizance Oil Limited, an unlicenced oil marketing company, Mr. Tay was handed a 15-year prison term by an Accra High Court.
However, instead of serving his sentence at Nsawam medium security prison, Mr. Tay has allegedly been staying at Ridge Hospital under the pretext of being seriously ill. The circumstances surrounding his hospitalisation and the duration of his stay have raised serious questions and concerns.
It is alleged that shortly after his transfer from the courts, Mr. Tay feigned illness and requested to be sent to see his personal doctor at Ridge Hospital. Surprisingly, the Nsawam Prison authorities obliged – releasing him to the hospital. Upon arrival he was admitted, and since then has remained there – unknown to the courts and even the plaintiff.
Sources have claimed that Mr. Tay is leading a comfortable life at the hospital, receiving visits from family members and friends. Reports have even suggested and alleged that he occasionally returns home to be with his wife and family.
Curiously, this is not the first time that Mr. Tay has resorted to such tactics. Allegations indicate that he had previously used a similar strategy to avoid prison custody following his arrest on the same charges. Back then, he pretended to be sick and managed to convince doctors at Ridge Hospital to detain him by falsely claiming to have undergone surgery.
The glaring question remains: why has Mr. David Aseye Tay been allowed to remain at Ridge Hospital for an extended period, defying his 15-year prison sentence at Nsawam medium security prison? Doubts have been raised about the Nsawam Prison authorities’ handling of the situation, with concerns over the appropriateness of keeping a convicted criminal in a hospital for such an extended period without clear confirmation of his medical condition.
Calls for an urgent investigation by the relevant authorities, including prison authorities, the court that sentenced him and Ridge Hospital, have intensified. Transparency is crucial throughout the investigation process, and the public deserves to be informed about the progress and findings of this case.
The case of Mr. David Aseye Tay may potentially prompt a review of policies and protocols regarding the hospitalisation of convicts to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As developments unfold, we will closely monitor the situation and keep our readers updated on any new developments or actions taken by the authorities in response to this concerning matter.
Facts of the case
David Aseye Tay, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after being convicted on 23 charges of defrauding by false pretence an amount of over US$6million sometime in the last week of May 2023.
His sentence came after he admitted to have in 2018, through dubious means, collected petroleum products from Misyl Energy Company Ltd. – an importer of finished petroleum products owned by Dr. Nick Danso Adjei.
Mr. Tay was found guilty on all counts: which include defrauding by false pretence, issuance of false cheques, money laundering, among others, after a more than two-year trial at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.
The amount in local currency GH¢27.9 million in 2018 was equivalent to US$6million when US$1 was exchanged at GH¢4.67.
In a trial that was Suit NO.CR/0140/2020, the Republic vs David Aseye Tay saw the judge as part of the ruling on the case give an order of restitution.
The order meant all properties the accused acquired from funds he accumulated from the products he took from Misyl Energy Company are to be taken over by the complainant company and sold to defray part of the cost.
The restitution orders given by the court covered some houses and cars as identified in Accra. Additionally, the court authorised the seizure and sale of a G&G operating licence worth GH¢1.3million as well as seven fuel stations located across Ghana.
Mr. Aseye Tay, who is known in his circles as a tough guy and was described as “One living like a spoilt prince”, is alleged to be able to find his way out of trouble; but this time around could not escape from the law when he was put before the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.
For the first time he has learnt the hard way – as former US President Abraham Lincoln once said – “You can fool all people some of the time and some people all the time. But you can never fool all people all the time”.
