Court declines bail for Abodakpi

The Fast Track Court in Accra has thrown out an application for bail filed by the convicted MP for Keta, Dan Abodakpi.

Mr. Abodakpi who's serving a 10-year jail term for causing financial loss to the state had applied for bail pending an appeal of the ruling.

But the presiding judge, Justice S.T. Farkye said the motion for bail was without merit.

Justice Farkye said a bail would not be necessary since Mr. Abodakpi's appeal against his conviction would not be unduly delayed. Lawyers of the convicted MP argued that their client finds himself under unusual circumstances making his case a special one.

According to them, Mr. Abodakpi's case is special because he has been an MP since 1993. But Justice Farkye ruled that being an MP does not make Abodakpi's case a special one.

Again the applicant's legal team argued that the entire family of Mr. Abodakpi is in Ghana and therefore he would not abscond if granted bail.

The judge also dismissed the argument, saying it was revealed during the trial that five of the MPs children were living in the United States.