I was forced to give statement - Telewu
Ibrahim Adam introduced Woodard to me- Witness
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2001
Joseph Telewu, alias Terminator, the first accused person in the Ablekuma murder trial on Wednesday told an Accra High Court that the police used force in taking statements from him.
Telewu, who made this disclosure during cross-examination, said apart from the last statement on May 21, 1999, which was taken from him voluntarily, the police used force to take the rest.
He is being tried with eight others for the murder of two policemen in November 1998.
The eight include Seth Ababio Kissergbi, alias Rasta, Nii Amo Dodoo, William Nii Muetteh Addo and Newland Awayevu.
The rest are Okyeame Darko Dodoo, Wisdom Awayevu, alias Kwasi Luga, Daniel Mills, alias Black or Fussy, and Yemo Odai, alias Joe Shanton.
They have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and murder.
Okyeame Dodoo is the only one on bail, with all the rest on remand in prison custody.
The policemen, Richard Owusu-Sekyere and Jerry Wornoo had gone to Ablekuma to erect pillars on a piece of land acquired by Owusu-Sekyere when they were murdered.
Telewu told the court presided over by Mrs Justice Beatrice Agyemang-Bempah that because he was indisposed, a voluntary statement was taken from him at the Bureau of National Investigations on May 21, 1999.
He said, however, that when the police arrested him for his alleged involvement in the crime, they physically assaulted him and forced him to write down a statement.
The statement, he said was taken in the absence of an independent witness.
Quizzed by the prosecution whether he was still in the Army, Telewu told the court that by the time he was involved in the crime, he was not a soldier.
Hearing continues on Thursday when Seth Ababio Kissergbi, the second accused person, will testify.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2001
A prosecution witness in the trial of two former Ministers of State and four other persons in connection with the Quality Grain scandal, told the Fast Track Court in Accra on Wednesday that Ibrahim Adam, one time Agriculture Minister introduced Juliet Renee Woodard, a director of Quality Grain Company to him for assistance.
Dr Paul Kuranchie, Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) said sometime in 1995, he invited the lady for discussion and advised her to submit a report on a 5.6 million-dollar rice project she wanted to undertake in the Volta Region.
Adam, Samuel Dapaah, former Chief Director of the Agriculture Ministry, Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, George Yankey, former Director of the Legal Sector of the Ministry of Finance, Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff and Kwesi Ahwoi, former Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, are variously charged with conspiracy and causing a 20 million dollar financial loss to the state. They have all pleaded not guilty and are on self-cognisance bail.
Led in evidence by Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Kuranchie said when Woodard brought the report he referred it to the bank's
Project Manager for re-appraisal.
He said the bank declined to assist because the amount involved was above its quantum. Besides she was unable to provide 4.2 million dollars the bank requested.
Another witness, Mr John Cooke, Project Manager of the bank, said he studied the report and found that the project could be feasible.
He said the company could not, however, satisfy the bank's conditions after re-appraisal of the report.
Hearing continues on Friday, July 6.
GRi…/
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