Constitutional lawyer, Raymond Bidema, has strongly asserted that Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, has no legitimate excuse to justify his alleged purchase of the stolen Lamborghini Urus.
Speaking to Tutuwaa Danso on Starr Today on Thursday, August 21, Mr. Bidema urged celebrities and public figures like Shatta Wale to exercise due diligence when making high-value purchases.
“It is not a sufficient defence, in my opinion, because the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the car are quite problematic. The price at which the vehicle was sold is not comparable to something like kelewele that one might casually buy from a roadside vendor,” Bidema stated.
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He stated that the matter raises serious legal red flags: “These are the kinds of issues that a court or an investigative body would carefully examine to determine whether the buyer may have had prior knowledge or played a role in suspicious activity. First of all, the car was reportedly purchased above typical market value; which is, in itself, a red flag. Secondly, the buyer doesn’t even know the identity of the seller, nor is there any receipt or documentation to support the transaction. This is not a minor item purchased for 100 cedis; it is a car worth $150,000.”
Bidema went on to caution that making such a high-value purchase without proper verification or documentation should raise concerns for any reasonable person.
“When purchasing a vehicle, standard procedure requires documentation; registration papers, transfer of ownership, and so on. Was the seller in possession of these documents? If so, under whose name were they registered? If there was no paperwork at all, that could suggest the car was unlawfully acquired, and the buyer may be held liable for taking possession of a potentially stolen vehicle.”
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The legal expert concluded by urging influential personalities to lead by example and avoid reckless behavior that could encourage illicit transactions.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
