Electoral Commission fights bench warrant
Tribunal jails three persons for stealing
Chinese Embassy employees, taxi driver before tribunal for stealing
Electoral Commission files a motion to set aside bench warrant
Accra (Greater Accra) 6 May ’99
The Electoral Commission (EC), on Wednesday filed an ex-parte motion at an Accra High Court, to set aside a bench warrant it issued on Tuesday.
The court had issued the warrant against the Electoral Commissioner and eight others for failing to appear before it in a contempt case.
Mr Thomas Ward-Brew, leader and founder of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), took a court action retraining Mr Daniel Markin , also of the DPP, from acting as the leader of the party and from holding a congress without his authorisation.
Mr Markin however went ahead to hold the congress under the supervision of the EC.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, counsel for the EC Mr Johnny Quarshie-Idun, swore that the absence of his clients in court was entirely the fault of his chambers.
The motion has been slated for hearing on May 11, this year.
Mrs. Akoto Bamfo, the presiding judge issued the warrant after she has granted an application by Mr Ward-Brew, an Accra legal practitioner who brought contempt proceedings against the nine respondents.
The respondents are: the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman, Mr D. A.
Kangah, Deputy Chairman, Operations, and Mr K. Safo Kantanka, Deputy Chairman, Administration.
Others are Professor Ernest Dumor, Madam Theresa Cole and Miss Elizabeth Solomon, all members of EC
The rest are Mr K. Arhin, Director of Operations of the EC and Mr Markin of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).
Counsel explained in the affidavit, that his Chambers failed to inform their clients to appear in court.
He, therefore, expressed regret and apologised to the court for the omission.
Mr Quarshie-Idun further explained that he was in court at the previous sitting, "but the judge was unfortunately indisposed so a new date was agreed on with the court clerk".
Counsel stated that the new date was not entered in their records and this resulted in the omission.
He added that he would make sure his clients appear before the court on May 13.
GRi../
Tribunal jails three persons for stealing
Accra, (Greater Accra) 6th May ‘99,
A circuit tribunal in Accra on Wednesday sentenced three persons to two years imprisonment each when they pleaded guilty to stealing.
The tribunal, chaired by Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson-Yeboah ordered the Police to keep the stolen items retrieved until their owners came to identify them.
House breaking implements among the items should be destroyed.
Kwaku Amoah, 19, and Francis Kwasi, alias Aligas, 21, both traders and Samuel Yaw, 16, a labourer pleaded guilty to the charge.
Police Chief Inspector Benedicta A. Akolgo said at about 0030 hours on April 24 Amoah, Aligaas and Yaw went to Dome in Accra during a power failure and stole a Kawasaki motorcycle and a bicycle.
They then headed towards the Saint John's junction on the Accra-Nsawam road, stopped a vehicle belonging to Novotel Hotel and asked for a lift to the Kwame Nkrumah circle, explaining that they have had a flt tyre while returning from a friend's funeral at Dome.
A police Patrol team intercepted them on the way and during a search uncovered a curved iron bar and a knife.
She said during investigations, they admitted having stolen the motor bike and the bicycle from Dome.
GRi
Chinese Embassy employees, taxi driver before tribunal for stealing
Accra, (Greater Accra) 6th May ‘99 ,
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Wednesday remanded three men, including two employees of the Chinese Embassy, in custody for allegedly stealing items valued at 13.5 million cedis belonging to their employers.
Eric Nuoduoku, 32, Francis Ansah, 26, both workers of the embassy, and Bright Dosu, 21, a taxi driver, pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry and stealing. They would appear again on May 12.
Police Chief Inspector Edward C. Antwi told the tribunal chaired by Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson-Yeboah that on April 27 Police personnel from the Panther Unit, who were on patrol around Tetteh Quarshie Circle intercepted a taxi cab.
The prosecutor said when the cab was searched, Police found one Compaq computer, one radio cassette tape recorder, one air conditioner, one air conditioner pipe, one colour printer and two Konka television sets, all valued at 13.5 million cedis, which the Police suspected to be stolen items.
Chief Inspector Antwi said Nuoduoku claimed ownership of the items and confessed that they were stolen from the Chinese Embassy.
The prosecutor said Nuoduoku led the Police to the embassy, where he identified Ansah, a security guard of the embassy, as an accomplice. Ansah admitted to the offence when questioned.
He said officials of the Chinese Embassy, who were invited to the Police headquarters, identified the stolen items as property of the embassy.
GRi