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06.07.2004 General News

Agbodo's Counsel addresses Court

06.07.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, July 6, GNA - Mr Tony Lithur, Counsel for Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo in the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture trial would on Friday, July 16, address an Accra Fast Track Court hearing the matter.

Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, Trial Judge, gave the date at the Court's sitting on Tuesday, after Counsel had informed it that his address was not ready.

Counsel told the court that he needed transcripts of his client's evidence from the registry to enable him to prepare his address. The Court obliged and consequently adjourned proceedings to July 16.

Agbodo, Former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), is being tried with two others for their alleged involvement in bribery and corruption in connection with the privatisation of GREL.

The two are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, who is at the moment outside the country for medical treatment and Ralph Casely-Hayford, a Businessman.

They were allegedly bribed to use their positions to influence the DIC Board to divest GREL in favour of a French company called Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea (SIPH).

All the three accused persons have denied the various charges and are currently on self-recognisance bail.

At the Court's sittings on June 24 and June 25 Agbodo gave his evidence-in-chief.

This was followed by cross-examination by Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

It would be the turn of Mr Lithur to summarise his Client's evidence and present it, before the Court, in the form of an address. This is exactly what Counsel would be doing at the next sitting of the Court on July 16.

Mr David Lamptey is defending Ayittey, while Mr Rodney Heward-Mills is appearing for Casely-Hayford.

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