Ex-Goldman Banker Arrested Over Alleged Ghana Bribery Scheme

• Asante Berko was previously sued by the SEC over same conduct
• Foreign bribery charges unsealed after case was filed in 2020

Source: By Patricia Hurtado (Bloomberg news)

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker Asante Berko was arrested on charges that he orchestrated bribes to Ghanaian officials while employed at the investment bank.

A six-count August 2020 indictment unsealed last week in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, accuses Berko of conspiring with at least two Ghanaian officials and four others in a bribery scheme that benefited Goldman, himself and a Turkish energy company that sought to build a power plant in the African nation.

The unsealing was timed with Berko’s arrest last week at London’s Heathrow Airport, a person familiar with the matter said. He remains in UK custody.

Carl Loewenson, a lawyer for Berko, declined to comment. John Marzulli, a spokesman for Brooklyn US Attorney Breon Peace, also declined to comment. A spokesperson for Goldman didn’t immediately respond to an email and voicemail messages seeking comment about the case.

According to the indictment, Berko was at the time of the scheme a member of the team at Goldman responsible for securing and managing financing for the power plant project. He allegedly paid the bribes to obtain the necessary approvals for the Turkish company, in which Goldman held a 16% stake. Prosecutors also claim Berko laundered the bribe money through US financial institutions. ReadMore