Accused Court Interpreter Granted Bail

Accra April 8, GNA - Ahmed Abubakar, Interpreter at an Accra Fast Track Court, who allegedly collected monies as bribe from the family of two convicts to influence the Jury in a murder trial has been charged with accepting or giving 21 million cedis bribe to influence public officers. The initial amount of 10 million cedis, changed when the Prosecution presented its case at an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday.

Abubakar was granted 80 million cedis bail with three sureties after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He is to re-appear on April 20 and report to the police every Thursday. The Court chaired by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh in granting bail, said it took into consideration the period of his incarceration and also the fact that the offence was a misdemeanour.

It asked the convict to comport himself while on bail.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police Elizabeth Alormatu told the Court that the complainant was the Public Relations Officer of the Judicial Service.

She said about two years ago the accused worked at an Accra High Court that tried a murder case that involved Francis Tetteh Yartey and Tetteh Yartey, now convicts.

The Prosecution said during the trial, Abubakar approached Francis that each of the seven-member jury needed five million cedis to rule in their favour.

She said Francis initially gave Abubakar four million cedis after which Abubakar arranged a meeting between Francis and two of the Jurors at the Kaneshie First Light in Accra during which Francis gave an additional three million cedis to them.

DSP Alormatu said Abubakar later collected seven million cedis from Francis after the convicts had informed Abubakar about their inability to pay five million cedis to each of the jurors but could afford three million cedis to each of them.

The Prosecution said at dawn on April 1, this year, Francis met Abubakar at a spot near Accra New Town and gave him another seven million cedis to make a total payment of 21 million cedis.

She said Abubakar gave 10 million cedis to the Jurors and kept 11 million cedis. During Police investigations Abubakar admitted the offence.