Trial of Asabee, others bounces back

This was after the trial Judge, Mr. Charles Quist, who went on leave, had resumed work. When the case was called, a defence counsel, Mr. Augustine Obuor, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him study the over 100-page record of proceedings handed over to him.

According to Mr. Obour, he needed time to go through the record of proceedings to enable him cross-examine Mr. Godfred Agyepong, Head of Audit at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI). The court obliged to the submissions by the defence counsel, and adjourned the matter to October 19.

The other accused persons are  Zuleika Asamoah-Boateng, wife of ex-minister Kofi Asamoah-Boateng, a former Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Information, Mr. Frank Agyekum, a former Deputy Information Minister, Kwabena Denkyira, a former Deputy Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry.

The rest are Mr. Dominic A. Y. Sampong, a former acting Chief Director at the Ministry, Yasmin Domua, a Manageress, Prosper Arku of Supreme Procurement Agency Limited, and the company as an entity. The accused are standing trial over GH¢86,915.85 renovation works done at the Ministry of Information.

Charged variously for conspiracy, contravention of the Procurement Act, attempt to defraud, altering document, and deceit of public officer, they have all denied the offences, and have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with a surety each.

In another development, the same court adjourned the case of Adamu Daramani, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central to October 29, pending the outcome of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal.

The MP had gone to the Court Appeal to appeal against the High Court's decision, which directed that the state could recall a witness in his nationality trial, if it wished to do so.

The High Court trying Daramani for perjury, forgery of passport, election fraud, and deceiving public officers to be elected as an MP on June 8, this year, granted the prosecution leave to recall a witness if it wished to do so, in order to clarify what it termed an ambiguity arising from the MP's evidence and documents from the National Security Secretariat (NSS), which said the MP had not renounced his British nationality status before contesting the seat.

Mr. Yonny Kulendi, Counsel for Daramani, had argued that it was wrong for the court to direct the prosecution to recall a witness, months after the prosecution had closed its case, and especially, when it had not made such a request. – GNA