Court hears Wontumi's bid to defer July 3 judgment in Samreboi case today
An Accra High Court is expected to hear an application by lawyers for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking to defer the scheduled July 3 judgment in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The application is scheduled to be heard on Monday, June 29, at Criminal Court 4, according to a case update shared by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem Sai.
The update listed the matter as: "Republic v Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi & 2 Ors (Samreboi Illegal Mining Case) Application for deferment of Judgment."
The application follows concerns raised by Wontumi's lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, who has argued that he requires additional time to study the record of proceedings and prepare written submissions on behalf of his client.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews ahead of Monday's hearing, Mr. Atta Akyea, who recently took over after Wontumi's lawyer withdrew, expressed surprise at the Attorney General's opposition to the request.
"I'm very surprised that even the Attorney General by an affidavit have been in opposition and say that we are trying to delay the trial, but then if you don't give us opportunity, and then we don't shed light on the case from our perspective, then there suffers a miscarriage of justice," he said.
The Attorney General has opposed the application, arguing that the accused persons had legal representation throughout the trial and that the request is intended to delay the administration of justice.
The state also contends that the new lawyer should have obtained the relevant records and briefing from previous counsel instead of seeking the documents through the court registry.
Mr. Atta Akyea, however, argues that the application is intended to protect his client's constitutional right to a fair hearing and not to frustrate the proceedings.
According to him, the written submission stage is critical in a criminal trial because it allows counsel to analyse the evidence, apply the law and persuade the court on why an accused person should be acquitted.
"To shut the door on his face when he has no lawyer, I don't believe that will be justice," he stated.
The former Abuakwa South MP further argued that an accused person without legal training cannot reasonably be expected to prepare written submissions or adequately address the court without legal representation.
He said his request is not for an indefinite adjournment, indicating that six weeks would be sufficient to review the proceedings and prepare a proper submission.