Controversy is what I enjoy most! Sounds crazy huh? But it gives me the pleasure to articulate my unsolicited views. No wonder I follow controversial celebrities on social media all the time just to bring you that, and the ‘useless’ aspect of their lives.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
New twist in Exopa's coke trial
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
THE trial of the Chief Executive of Exopa Model Agency, Sima Ibrahim, yesterday took a new twist following contradictions in the evidence of two prosecution witnesses who visited the accused person’s residence upon his arrest.
Although Anthony Smith, the officer who arrested Sima had testified in court on January 19, 2010, that they found tubers of yams similar to those which were stuffed with cocaine at Sima’s residence, Chief Inspector Andreas Kojo Sorbor, Head of Investigations at the Narcotics Control Board, yesterday testified otherwise.
Insp. Sobor told the court yesterday under cross-examination that neither traces of cocaine nor tubers of yams were found in the accused person’s residence.
“I did not see any yams in the house…I didn’t see any traces of cocaine,” Insp. Sorbor, told the Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Charles Quist.
According to Insp. Sobor, it was not true that the team of narcotic officials who visited the house of the accused on the dawn of September 7, 2009, saw or collected yams from the residence of Sima at Tema Community 10.
However, both Mr.Smith and Insp. Sobor who have testified in the case as first and third prosecution witnesses respectively, said they retrieved a knife, super glue and scrippers from the residence.
Sima, who organized the first-ever Ghana International Fashion Show in July 2009 after a successful Ghana Fashion Week last year is currently on remand at the Nsawam Maximum Prison on two counts of attempted exportation and possession of narcotic drug without authority.
Until his arrest, Sima has been very instrumental in re-awakening the country’s model and fashion industry with his agency which is training young promising models for the market.
When the case resumed yesterday after more than a months suspension, Insp. Sobor denied counsel’s claim by Sima’s counsel, James Agalga that the team that visited Sima’s residence searched the house.
According to him, when they arrived at the residence, Sima led them straight to the kitchen where the accused showed them a scripper, knife and a partly used super glue which he said was used for the cutting and the sealing of the yams.
Insp. Sobor who told the court that he has 19 years of police experience said those implements were on top of the accused person’s kitchen cabinet and disagreed with Mr.James Agalga’s claim that the team cut the ceiling as part of their search of the house.
He, however, admitted counsel’s claim that two guns belonging to the accused person were retrieved by the team, and noted that those guns were found in the accused person’s vehicles which were seized by the Narcotic Control Board.
Giving his evidence in chief, Insp. Sobor said on September 7, 2009 between 12 noon and 1:00 am he was called to the office to join other officers to go with the accused person to his residence at Tema Community 10.
He said about 10 policemen visited the house and the intent was to retrieve some implements the accused person told them was used to cut the tubers of yams to stuff with cocaine.
He said that in the house, the accused showed the implements which he identified as having used for the cutting and stuffing of the tubers of yam, adding that the team then took possession of the implements.
Under cross-examination, he told the court that he was not present when the accused person was arrested, stressing that he did not also interrogate him upon his arrest.
However, Insp. Sobor told the court that on their way to the accused residence, he asked him some questions based on which the accused told him something about the scripper,knife and the glue he used.
He disagreed with counsel that he was armed to the teeth at the time they visited Sima’s residence, stressing that could not tell if any of the team members was armed as claimed by counsel.
The case has been adjourned to May 20, for continuation
It is the prosecution’s case that on September 7, 2009, Sima arrived at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra to board a Lufthansa Flight to Germany and while going through departure formalities, Sima was suspected of carrying narcotic drug following which a search was conducted on him and his luggage.
The prosecution said that the search revealed some whitish substances suspected to be cocaine hidden in four tubers of yam which were found in Sima’s luggage, leading to his arrest.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The 'Jesus Onetouch' Case: Prosecution alleges threats on her life
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
THE Police prosecutor handling the case of the Accra-based pastor alleged to have defiled his 10-year old daughter says her life is being threatened.
“If I tell you there were even threats on my life you won’t believe it,” ASP Sara Ekua Acquah, disclosed yesterday at the Accra Circuit Court trying Nana Kofi Yirenkyi, Head Pastor of Jesus Blood Prophetic Ministry.
No details were given as to who, when and the medium through which the alleged threats were issued.
The prosecution’s claim came as a surprise to Nana Yirenkyi who is mostly referred to as “Jesus Onetouch,” and most of his church members and relatives who filled the courtroom.
According to ASP Acquah, the prosecution is having “security problems” at the Ministry’s Police Cells where the accused is being held, but again did not give details as to what kind of security threats they are faced with, citing security reasons.
In view of this, she prayed the court to remand the accused who is mostly referred to as “Jesus Onetouch,” in prison custody but his counsel, K.N Acheampong disagreed with the prosecution’s claim on the grounds that they are factually unfounded.
However, the trial judge, Mrs. Georgina Mensah-Datsa refused the prosecution’s plea to remand the accused in prison custody, saying “I have confidence in the police in protecting the accused person, the prosecution and the police station”.
She pointed out that it had always been very difficult to get remand prisoners to appear for trial whenever they are due to appear before the court.
Mrs. Mensah-Datsa thus asked the accused to be remanded in police custody but said it is within the powers of the police to send him to whichever police station it feels appropriate.
Sources close to the prosecution told the Times after yesterday’s proceedings that Nana Yirenkyi is likely to be moved from the Ministry’s Police cells to a different police station.
Nana Yirenkyi, who was arrested in March this year for allegedly defiling his daughter with whom he lived in Accra, is being tried on two counts of defilement and incest.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is currently on police remand, having been refused bail three times
Meanwhile, the defence yesterday told the court of its resolve to appeal against its ruling refusing a submission of no case last Tuesday.
According to Mr.Acheampong, they have just received a corrected version of court proceedings and in the process of filing their appeal against the Circuit Court’s decision to refuse the submission of no case.
In the meantime, he told the court that they would file a stay of proceedings pending the appeal, hence urged the court to adjourn the case to May 24, to enable the defence to put its house in order.
On April 26, the defence made a submission of no case immediately the prosecution closed its case but the court on May 4 ruled that the prosecution has been able to establish a prima facie case against Nana Yirenkyi.
It consequently asked Nana Yirenkyi to prepare to open his defence yesterday but when the case was called after several hours of waiting for his counsel to make appearance, he announced his intention to appeal against the court’s decision.
It is the prosecution’s case that the victim, who was born out of wedlock, had been living with her mother until 2005 when she was sent to Nana Yirenkyi at McCarthy Hill, Accra to attend school.
The prosecution said between 2008 and 2009, Nana Yirenkyi started having sexual intercourse with her daughter on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays before church service.
It said in November 2009, Nana Yirenkyi requested the victim’s mother to talk to the victim who she said had put up a bad character.
According to the prosecution, it was at this instance that the victim revealed her ordeal to her mother who reported the matter to the police who gave her a form for medical examination.
Nana Yirenkyi was later arrested and put before court.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The GIA Case: Defence demands prosecution's papers
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
THREE of the five persons being tried for their alleged complicity in the liquidation of Ghana Airways and the formation of the Ghana International Airline Limited, are requesting for all documents that the prosecution intends to rely on for its case.
But the Attorney General has opposed the request, which was put forward by three of the five persons at the Accra Financial High Court where the case is to be heard.
The three are Dr Richard Anane, former Minister of Transportation; Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; and Kwadwo Mpiani, former Presidential Affairs Minister.
They argued that under Article 19 (1) and (2e) their clients are entitled to a fair trial within a reasonable time, as well as adequate time and facilities for the preparation of their defence.
As such, they are urging the court to order the prosecution to provide them with all exhibits and documents that the prosecution would rely on to put up a case against their clients.
Meanwhile, the court presided over by Justice Bright Mensah, was compelled to adjourn the case to May 17, because the A-G’s affidavit in opposition to the defence request was not served on the defendants until yesterday morning.
This is to afford the defence the opportunity to study the A-G’s affidavit and respond appropriately if the need be.
Other accused persons on trial in the case are Professor George Gyan- Baffour, former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Sammy Crabbe.
The five accused persons now variously face 22 counts of conspiracy, willfully causing financial loss to the state, defrauding by false pretences, deceit of public officer, misapplication of public funds, opening of an offshore account without authority from the Bank of Ghana, and stealing.
They have all pleaded not guilty to their charges and have been granted GH¢300,000 self-cognisance bail.
Four more people, who were not named, are said to be outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Meanwhile, the court room and premise was yesterday filled with some former government officials and members of the NPP.
Leading them were aspiring NPP flagbearer, Nana Akuffo Addo, Professor Mike Oquaye, Dr.Konadu Apraku, Sheikh I.C.Quaye, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Frema Opare.
There was spontaneous cheers by supporters of Nana Addo who flooded the court premise moments after he stepped out of the courtroom.
Giving a background of the case Ms Aikins said four applications submitted to the government of Ghana to help turn round the fortunes of the ailing Ghana Airways were presented to Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) for evaluation in 2004.
She said in order of merit, the technical evaluation rated KLM/Kenya Airways Fidelity 67 70 per cent, Ghana Partners 51 per cent and Ghana International Airlines 44 per cent and Corporate Trade solutions, 31 per cent.
She said Dr Anane shifted the goal post to suit the third placed bid by demanding that government would like to partner who would put in equity though there was no real reason for that.
Ms Aikins said an evaluation was completed and in their report of April 22, 2004 PWC noted that “in its current form it is difficult to identify what benefits the plan offers the government. The GIA plan does not meet all the ministry’s requirement as specified”.
She said as far back as 2003/2004, Mr Crabbe had been operating an unincorporated company known as GIA and acted with Dr Anane to mislead cabinet that GIA USA LLC was in existence and was a reputable company.
Ms Aikins said prosecution would lead evidence to show that despite the existence of the factors, Mr Mpiani, Dr Osei and Prof Gyan Baffuor unlawfully disbursed or authorised the disbursement of 56 million dollars to the then floundering company, GIAL.
She said prosecution would also lead evidence to show that under the shareholders’ agreement signed on November 30 2004, the government represented by Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, then Minister of Finance delivered the equity share of 4.9 million dollars which the Minority, represented by one Jonathan Duga, was to contribute 2.1 million dollars.
The prosecution said Mr Crabbe and his group deposited their share capital into Stanchart New York USA in GIAL’s account but they secretly took 1.9 million of the deposited equity without authorisation.
Mrs Aikins said with the theft, Mr Crabbe and his Minority group had since refunded 1.2 million dollars of the amount leaving an outstanding 700,000 dollars.
She said prosecution would lead evidence to show that the so called strategic partners had left the GIAL, that they had stolen part of the much needed initial equity and that there was no management to run the airline.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
One More Charged in Ya-Na's Case
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
ONE more person was yesterday, put before court for his alleged complicity in the murder of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II. This bring to 10, the total number of persons arraigned before court so far.
The accused person is Abubakar Mahama, and state prosecutors hinted that more people are expected to be arraigned soon.
The nine, others are Iddrisu Iddi, 76; Alhaji Baba Abdula, 56; Kwame Alhassan, 53; Yidana Sugri, 42; Mohammed Kojo, 45; Mahamadu Abdulai, 57; Sayibu Mohammed, 34; Yakubu Mahamadu, 42 and Alhassan Braima. The accused are alleged to have murdered Ya-Na in 2002 in his Palace at Yendi.
The Accra District Magistrate Court, presided over by Ms. Patricia Quansah, refused all the 10 persons bail, saying that it has no jurisdiction to grant them bail because it has only “summary jurisdiction.”
It said it could grant bail only when the facts of the case did not support the charges against the accused persons, it could not say so in the present instance.
The court asked the accused persons to apply for bail at the High Court if they so desired indicating that any decision apart from remanding them would be in conflict with the High Court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Gertrude Aikins, said the prosecution had between April 12 and yesterday, “been able to get some evidence against the accused persons.”
She, did not state the kind of evidence the prosecution has, but asked for two more weeks for further investigations which, she said, was necessary considering the fact that the incident occurred in 2002, thus making investigations difficult.
Mrs. Aikins said that by the end of the two weeks the prosecution would be able to put forward a bill of indictment.
In view of the new evidence, the prosecution yesterday substituted the charge sheet on the nine persons who were first arraigned on April 12, with a new one but the charges of conspiracy, murder and unlawful military training remained.
The prosecution told the court that it would on the next adjourned date, May 19, consolidate the two dockets of the nine persons and the 10th accused person.
According to her, the prosecution is using the Wuako Commission’s report only as a basis for further investigations.
She said that Article 14 (3) of the Constitution inferentially admits that investigations cannot be conducted within 48 hours, hence the provision that persons arrested are put before court within that period.
Counsel for the accused persons, Atta Akyea, said “the charge as currently preferred is a ruse so that they (his clients) are deprived of their liberty.”
Describing the prosecution’s argument as a “clever manoeuvre” by the Attorney-General to secure further remand of his clients, Counsel
argued that “as it stands, the prosecution does not have a proper charge of murder for the court to exercise its jurisdiction under the criminal law not to grant the accused persons bail.”
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Sale of Ghana Telecom Case: Supreme Court Suspends Hearing
By Stehen Kwabena Effah
THE Supreme Court yesterday declared as “premature,” the referral to it by the Accra Commercial Court of the three constitutional issues for interpretation in the litigation of the sale of government’s 70 per cent shares in Ghana Telecom.
The court was of the view that some relevant materials which raise fundamental issues have not been put before it by the Accra Commercial Court which referred the three constitutional issues to the Supreme Court.
It has consequently suspended its hearing of the matter to enable the lower court call for those documents and make them available to the Supreme Court before the matter proceeds.
The issues referred to are whether an agreement executed by the government and ratified by Parliament can be challenged in the High Court, whether any procedural or substantive errors or defects in the Sale and Purchase Agreement was or can be cured by the ratification by Parliament and whether Articles 61.6, 10.7, 12, and 13.21 of the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) dated July 3, 2008 and executed by government, Vodafone International Holdings BV and Ghana Telecom contravene the country’s constitution and therefore render the agreement void.
The Supreme Court adjourned the case indefinitely after counsel for the plaintiffs in the case at the lower court, Bright Akwetey, had drawn the court’s attention to the fact that efforts made at securing those documents at the High Court had proved futile.
The documents are: the original version of the Sales and Purchases Agreement (SPA) executed on July 3, 2008 between Ghana government and Vodafone International Holdings BV and Ghana Telecom, and amended version of the SPA.
Others are a copy of the report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the SPA which was presented to the government in October 2009, proceedings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the SPA, a copy of the disclosure letter dated July 25, 2008, and a report on the valuation of assert of Ghana Telecom.
The rest are a report/or statement on the value of Volta Communication, a report on the asset of Onetouch, a report on valuation of the asset of Fibre Co., a report/or statement of the value of the asset of Fibre Co., a report of the Transaction Advisor on the SPA and the inventory of the assets of Ghana Telecom.
Mr.Akwetey argued that such documents, especially the original version of the SPA, were relevant to the court in determining the three constitutional issues and urged the court to order the A-G to provide copies of those documents.
He said that the issue of procedural errors was extensively dealt with by the Inter-Ministerial Committee noting that its report “contains a lot that could help us.”
But counsel for Ghana Telecom, Norbert Kudjawu, contended that it would be extraneous for the Supreme Court to make an order for those documents, indicating that “that is the duty of the High Court”.
He added that those documents were not relevant to the three constitutional issues referred for interpretation.
He said that the High Court judge, Justice Henry Coffie, considered the relevancy of all those documents to the case before the referral.
In view of Mr. Akwetey’s submission, the court said he ought to have drawn the High Court’s attention to the fact that it was pre-mature in referring the matter, and thus adjourned the case sine die for those documents to be provided.
The court was chaired by Justice Gerogina Wood, and had Justices William Atugubah, S.A. Brobbey, Date Baah, Sophia Adinyira, Rose Owusu, Jones Dotse, Anin Yeboah and B.T. Aryeetey as members.
The substantive suit was initiated by Professor Agyemang Badu Akosah, Kossi Dedy, Dr.Nii Moi Thompson, Naa Kordai Assimeh, Rodaline Imoru Ayarna and Kwame Jantua in their capacity as Ghanaians.
They are contending that the Sale and Purchase Agreement entered into among the Government of Ghana, GT and Vodafone for the sale of 70 per cent of GT for $900 million was against the public interest and constituted an abuse of the discretionary powers of the government.
According to them, the decision of the government to transfer the assets, property, shares, equipment, among others, to Vodafone was obnoxious, unlawful and inimical to the public interest, particularly when no consideration was required to be paid by Vodafone for the stated assets.
The group argued that the three Ministers of State and the managing director of GT who signed the agreement on behalf of the government did not exercise the requisite level of circumspection required of them as public officers in relation to public property.
The plaintiffs are, therefore, seeking reliefs from the court, including a declaration that the agreement entered into by the government was not in accordance with the due process of law and was, therefore, a nullity.
They are also demanding that the court should give an order declaring that the forcible grouping of autonomous state institutions established by law — Voltacom, Fibreco, VRA Fibre Network and VRA Fibre Assets — with GT to form the purported Enlarged GT Group was unlawful and, therefore, void and of no legal effect.
The plaintiffs are further praying for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the government from disposing of its 70 per cent share of GT to Vodafone or any other foreign company without first exploring avenues for funding and better management in Ghana.
'Jesus Onetouch has case to answer'
By Stehen Kwabena Effah
THE Accra Circuit Court says a prima facie case has been established against the Head Pastor of the Jesus Blood Prophetic Ministry, Nana Kwesi Yirenkyi, who is alleged to have defiled his 10-year old daughter.
Ruling on a submission of no case initiated by the defence, the court presided over by Mrs.Georgina Mensah Datsa, said yesterday that the evidence adduced by the prosecution at the close of its case indicated that the accused has questions to answer.
It has thus asked the prosecution to prepare to open its defence on May 11, the next adjourned date.
The defence filed the submission of no case after the prosecution closed its case on April 26, after eight prosecution witnesses including the victim and her mother had testified in the case which started in March.
Popularly referred to as ‘Jesus Onetouch’, Nana Yirenkyi was arrested for allegedly defiling his 10-year old daughter with whom he lived, and is being tried on two counts of defilement and incest.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is currently on police remand, having been refused bail three times.
Unlike previous days, yesterday’s ruling changed the mood of the accused person who always appeared in court looking calm and confident. The accused appeared shaken by the court’s decision that he should open his defence.
His church members, most of who always appear in court in a jubilant mood were also silenced by the decision of the court as they walked out of the court premise looking somewhat distraught.
It is the prosecution’s case that the victim, who was born out of wedlock, had been living with her mother until 2005 when she was sent to Nana Yirenkyi at McCarthy Hill, Accra to attend school.
The prosecution said between 2008 and 2009, Nana Yirenkyi started having sexual intercourse with her daughter on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays before church service.
It said in November 2009, Nana Yirenkyi requested the victim’s mother to talk to the victim who she said had put up a bad character.
According to the prosecution, it was at this instance that the victim revealed her ordeal to her mother who reported the matter to the police who gave her a form for medical examination.
Nana Yirenkyi was later arrested and put before court.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
MP granted bail in gold case
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
The Accra Circuit Court yesterday granted the Member of Parliament for Sene, Felix Twumasi-Appiah, a GH¢100,000 self-cognisance bail in case in which he is charged with fraud and stealing in an alleged gold deal.
His accomplice, Juan Carlos, who is a Spanish, was also granted a GH¢150 bail with three sureties in view of the fact that he is not a Ghanaian citizen.
The court presided over by Mr.D.E.K. Daketse, had earlier given the two persons a GH¢100,000 bail each with two justified sureties in the case of Carlos but rescinded the decision following the plea of their counsel, Joshua Nimako to the effect that Mr.Twumasi-Appiah is an MP and also the fact that the sureties for Carlos was a bit harsh.
The two are facing three provisional counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and stealing but their plea have not been taken.
When the court resumed sitting yesterday after Thursday’s abrupt end following a near fire outbreak at the court premise, Mr.Nimako told the court that by the next adjourned date of May 18, “the matter would have been put to rest”
According to him, there has been new development in the case noting that have begun paying the 30,000 dollars involved in the case, saying “the money is almost paid”
He therefore prayed the court to grant his clients bail, noting that Mr.Twumasi-Appiah is an MP and the fact that they were willing to abide by whatever conditions the court may deem fit.
But ASP. Dery urged the court to take into account the fact that Carlos is not a Ghanaian, and for that matter he (Carlos) should be asked to provide sufficient sureties.
It is the prosecution’s case that the complainant, Juan Francisco Lozano, is a Spanish businessman who was on a visit to Ghana to transact business while Juan Carlos, is also a businessman and Mr.Twumasi-Appiah an MP
He said in March 2010, a certain Nana Kwame Donkor, another businessman, had a transaction with Mr. Lozano for his company to supply the latter with gold worth 160,000 dollars in three tranches.
However after two supplies, Nana Donkor was unable to supply the third tranche of gold and therefore promised to refund the remaining money to the complainant.
ASP Dery said Nana Donkor contacted the MP to help in the transfer of the money back to the complainant in installments, since it was not possible to transfer the amount in cash through the banks, hence two blank cheques were signed and left for the suspects to facilitate the transfer.
The prosecution said the money was to get to Spain through two persons who were called Ibrahim and Ishmael, and when the complainant sent the money through the account of the two persons in Spain, they bolted with it.
In addition, Nana Donkor paid 30,000 dollars as part payment to the police for the money to be given to the complainant.
According to the prosecution, the MP got Carlos to go to the office of the Unit Commander of Commercial Unit, ASP Yaa Tiwaa Danso, where Carlos claimed that Mr. Lozano was sick and could not come to Ghana, hence instructed him to collect the money on his behalf.
ASP Dery noted that it was after contacting Nana Donkor for the remaining money that the complainant was told that it had been given to the police to be given to him.
As a result, he said, the complainant contacted the police and he was told the money had been sent to him through his friend Carlos.
"My Lord, I am guilty"
Saturday, May 1, 2010
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
BARELY 72 hours after his arrest for attempted drug trafficking, the 56-year old music producer and self-confessed visa contractor, Sam Safo Kantanka, yesterday pleaded guilty when he made his maiden appearance at the Accra Fast Track High Court.
Although no official charge was read to him, he said: “My lord, there is no need for remand. I am guilty,” he told the court with confidence just when the presiding judge, Justice Charles Quist, ordered that he should be remanded in custody to appear again on May 27.
However, Justice Quist asked the man who is also known as Manga, to have patience in view of the fact that the substances he expelled had been forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board for analytical examination.
Saying that the proper thing should be done, Justice Quist asked the prosecutor, Chief State Attorney Asiamah Sampong to ensure that the Ghana Standards Board expedited action on the examination of the 96 thumb-sized substances suspected to be cocaine.
On Thursday, Kantanka told Narcotic officers that “I know I have committed an offence and I wish to be processed for court as early as possible”
When the case was called yesterday, Mr.Sampong asked the court to remand Kantanka in view of the fact that the substances have been forwarded for examination by the Ghana Standards Board.
Kantanka, who is resident at Sowutuom, a surburb of Accra, was arrested on April 27, at about 8:00pm while going through departure formalities to board a British Airways flight number BA 78 to London, on suspicion that he had ingested narcotic drugs.
A sample of his urine was tested and it proved positive for cocaine.
During interrogation by Narcotic Control Board officials, he was said to have admitted swallowing narcotic drugs claiming that it was given to him by one Stone of Ashongman Estate in Accra to be delivered to one Obroni in London for a fee of 4000 pound-sterling.
Kantanka was put under observation and between April 28 and April 29, he was said to have expelled 96 thumb-size pellets of substances suspected to be cocaine.
The substance has since been sent for examination.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Ya-Na's Murder Case: Abudus Stage Demo at Court
Sympathizers and supporters of the nine persons being prosecuted for the murder of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, yesterday besieged the premises of the Fast Track High Court in Accra to protest against their trial.
Mr. Akyea said the magistrate was misled by the prosecution to believe that the case was a murder one, which, he said, disarmed the magistrate to refuse bail for his clients, saying “the magistrate misunderstood her jurisdiction”.
Further, he said that although brief facts are suppose to explain why a particular charge has been preferred against someone, he noted that in their case, the facts presented by the prosecution at the magistrate’s court was on the contrary.
He said the magistrate should have taken Article 14 into consideration to establish whether the prosecution demonstrated reasonable and cogent grounds that his clients were indeed linked to Ya-Na’s murder.
He described the situation where suspects were arrested and remanded before investigations were conducted as “justice upside down”
However, he conceded that the bill of indictment and summary of evidence had not been prepared as required in murder cases, adding that these were being prepared.
Mr. Owiredu also said that in view of the fact that the case is about murder and by virtue of Section 96 (7) of the Criminal Procedure Act, bail cannot be given to the applicants, saying “it’s proper the lower court did not grant them bail”.
He said “everything possible is being done to put them before a High Court before the end of May”.
THE G.I.A. CASE: 22 Counts For Accused
THE number of government officials in the Kufuor administration being tried for their complicity in the liquidation of the Ghana Airways and the formation of the Ghana International Airline Limited, yesterday came to four.
When the case was called, Mrs. Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court, presided over by Justice Bright Mensah, that the prosecution intended to add Prof. Gyan-Baffour to the case, and thus sought to substitute the charge sheet with a new one.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour is facing six counts of conspiracy, deceit of public officer and willfully causing financial loss to the state.
She said in order of merit, the technical evaluation rated KLM/Kenya Airways/Fidelity, 67 per cent; Ghana Air Partners, 51 per cent; Ghana International Airlines, 44 per cent, and Corporate Trade Solutions, 31 per cent.
She said although it was clear that the best technical and financial proposal was from the KLM group, Dr Anane “eliminated the company by shifting the goal post”. He later submitted the chosen plan, the Ghana International Airline, to Price Waterhouse Coopers for evaluation.
Yendi Suspects Appeal to Human Rights Court
By Stephen Kwbena Effah.
THE nine persons standing trial for the murder of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, in 2002, are seeking bail at the Human Rights Court in Accra.
Iddrisu Iddi, 76; Alhaji Baba Abdulal, 56; Kwame Alhassan, 53; Yidana Sugri, 42; Mohammed Kojo, 45; Mahamadu Abdulai, 57; Sayibu Mohammed, 34; Yakubu Mahamadu, 42 and Alhassan Braima, 40, have filed an application to that effect.
Their action was prompted by the refused of the Accra Magistrate Court to grant them bail on April 12, when they were first arraigned on various charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and unlawful military training.
The nine, whose plea were not taken, are due to make their second appearance at the Magistrate’s Court on May 5.
The nine, however, appeared before the Human Rights Court on Friday where their lawyers were expected to have moved their application for bail.
But when the case was called for the application to be moved, Nana Obiri Boahen, one of the defence counsel, told the court that they had not been served with a copy of an affidavit in opposition filed by the Attorney-General’s Department.
The court thus adjourned to April 27, to enable the A-G to serve the applicants to enable them to respond appropriately.
Mr. Obiri Boahen told journalists after the court proceedings that their contention had to do with the fact that the detention of their clients was improper and a violation of their fundamental human rights.
According to him, under the law, accused persons were not supposed to be remanded in custody for more than 14 days, noting that the Magistrate’s Court erred in remanding the accused persons into custody for more than three weeks.
Mr. Obiri Boahen said that although his clients had been charged, their plea had not been taken adding that no bill of indictment had been prepared by the state to cover the case.
He argued that once it was a murder case, the state ought to have prepared a bill of indictment and summary of evidence.
Court to Decide on Sipa Yankey
THE Human Rights Court in Accra, will on May 20, rule CHRAJ should resume its investigation into the alleged Mabey and Johnson bribery scandal to exclusively hear the former Health Minister Dr. George Sipa Yankey.
The rest are Mr. Kwame Peprah, a former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning; Dr. George Sipa Yankey, former Head of the Legal and Private Sector Unit, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, and Alhaji Abubakar Sadique Boniface, a former Minister of Works and Housing in the previous administration.
CHRAJ empanelled Justice Emile Short as chairman, with Ms. Anna Bossman, Deputy Commissioner (Legal and Investigations) and Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner (Public Education and Anti-corruption), as members.
The public hearing was to enable CHRAJ, after preliminary investigations, to produce evidence in support of its case, call witnesses in support of that evidence, afford the respondents the opportunity to state their cases and produce witnesses after which a decision would have been reached.
The intervention forced CHRAJ to defer its ruling and adjourn sitting to April 7, to rule on Mr. Cudjoe’s submission. But on April 1, it issued a statement that it had indefinitely suspended investigations into the case due to the application for judicial review.
Accused Pleaded for Case to be Dropped -- Witness
The Head Pastor of the Jesus Blood Prophetic Ministry, Nana Kwesi Yirenkyi, promised to give the mother of his 10-year old daughter a house to influence her to drop the case of his alleged defilement of the child, the Accra Circuit Court heard yesterday.
Witness told the court that as the Commander refused to drop the case, Yirenkyi decided to beg the victim’s mother to withdraw the case so that he would give her a house in exchange, adding that that he “begged from day one till he was handed over to the Ministry’s DOVVSU in Accra”
According to Cpl.Djaba, he went to Yirenkyi’s home on March 11, with the victim who led them to the accused’s bedroom and pointed to a spot on the floor where she said her father had been having sexual escapades with her.
Gushiegu Suspects Charged With Murder
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
ONE of the five people charged for their involvement in the September 2008 violence that resulted in the death of three persons and the destruction of property at Gushiegu in the Northern Region, has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court.
Sandow Yebdow, who is facing one count of conspiracy to commit murder, was remanded by the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh, while the others were granted GH¢50,000 bail each with two sureties until May 11.
They are Abu Damba, Labaran Bawa, Labaran Salifu and Issifu Bawa. They are facing two counts of conspiracy and causing unlawful damage.
Four other persons charged with conspiracy to commit murder, are said to be on the run. They are Kpalsogu, Abubakari Shikura, Andani Bawa and Mohammed Immor, who was arrested but released by the police for lack of evidence in September 2008.
The September 1, 2008 violence at Gushiegu was a spill over from an earlier clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Kpatinga, a village near Gushiegu, on August 31, 2008.
The accused persons were said to be part of people who caused the violence that resulted in the death of three people, destruction of houses and cars.
Prosecuting, DSP P.K. Frimpong told the court yesterday, that investigation, were still ongoing, adding that the case docket would be sent to the Attorney General’s Department for advice upon the conclusion of the investigations.
He told the court that on August 31, 2008, some members of the NDC from Gushiegu went to Kpatinga, to erect party flags, and coincidentally, some NPP supporters were also at the village to put up a pavilion for their party.
According to the prosecution, a misunderstanding between the two sides arose resulted in a violent clash.
The two sides returned to Gushiegu and on the following day, the violence continued, DSP Frimpong said, adding that “they took the law into their hand and burnt 23 houses, three cars and three murders were also recorded”.
DSP Frimpong told the court that preliminary investigations revealed that Yebdow was among a group of five people who used sticks and other sharp implements to cause the death of Abubakari Ziblim, the chief of Naga, a surburb of Gushiegu.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Jesus One Touch Case: Prosecution Witness Gives Evidence In Camera
Tuesday March 30, 2010
By Stephen Kwabena Effah
For more than two hours, the girl, her mother, the prosecution and Nana Yirenkyi and his counsel, were locked up in the judge’s chamber as the victim gave evidence as the second prosecution witness in the case.
Details of the girl’s evidence were not made known but insiders told the Times after the proceedings that the girl recounted how her father had sex with her before church services.
Popularly known as ‘Jesus One Touch’, Nana Yirenkyi, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of defilement and incest, came out of the judge’s chamber looking somber and rushed straight to the washroom with a police escort.
The girl and her mother on the other hand showed some smiles on their faces after the proceedings.
The two were met outside the courtroom with insults by the members of the prophet’s congregation who thronged the court. The two were quickly whisked away by armed policemen.
The case has been adjourned to April 7 for continuation.
The defence team on March17 announced its intention to conduct a DNA test to establish who defiled the prophet’s 10-year-old daughter.
Mr K.N. Adomako Acheampong, counsel for the pastor, told the trial court presided over by Mrs. Georgina Mensah-Datsa, that the rationale behind the test “is to prove whether our sperm has entered the victim”.
The test, to be funded by the defence team, is to be conducted on Nana Yirenkyi, the accused and one Efo who, the pastor alleged, defiled his daughter. Efo was once Nana Yirenkyi’s houseboy.
According to the prosecution, the victim, who was born out of wedlock, had since lived with her mother until 2005 when she was sent to Nana Yirenkyi at McCarthy Hill in Accra to attend school.
The prosecution said between 2008 and 2009, Nana Yirenkyi started having intercourse with her daughter before church service.
In November 2009, the prosecution said Nana Yirenkyi requested the victim’s mother to come and talk to her for putting up a bad character.
It was at this stage that the victim revealed her ordeal to her mother who reported the matter to the police.