Judge: Criminals spy on the courts

An Accra Circuit Court Judge has raised the red flag over what he sees as a trend which could undermine the judicial process.

At his sitting on Monday, Judge D.E.K.K. Daketsey spoke about notorious criminals sending spies to the court to listen to proceedings and alert their senders.

Mr Daketsey said he noticed the trend when the court issued orders for the arrest of accused persons who failed to appear in court.

"The Spies, on hearing that bench warrants have been issued by the court, immediately inform their senders, thereby thwarting the effort of the police to effect arrest".

According to the judge, they pose as clerks working with law firms or with the courts.

"All such people should be careful because very soon the law will catch up with them. We will start chasing them", Mr Daketsey warned.

The judge made the observation when a suspect, Nana Oware, appeared before the court for failing to produce an accused person.

The accused, Bertha Akosua Boatema, is alleged to have collected money from about 37 persons under the pretext of providing them with rooms to rent.

She pleaded not guilty and the court admitted her to bail signed by Nana Oware.

The court, therefore, ordered the arrest of Boatema and enforced her bail bond on her surety.

Nana Oware last week prayed the court to give him a week to produce Boatema.

However, when the case was called again, he was unable to bring the accused and pleaded with the court to give him two more weeks to produce her. The court obliged and adjourned the matter to July 14.