Ex-Navy Rating placed in custody for defilement
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 November 2001 - Counsel for Kwame Peprah, sixth accused in the Quality Grain trial, said on Monday that the government had not incurred any financial loss as guarantor, for loans granted to the Quality Grain Company.
The Counsel, Kwaku Baah said the company, which established a rice project at Aveyime in the Volta Region was in production and capable of paying the loans.
Mr Baah was concluding his submissions of "no case" in a matter in which Peprah, former Finance Minister and five others are charged with conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss of more than 21 million dollars to the state.
Counsel contended that the government could not have incurred losses if the loans had been converted into farm assets. Mr Baah submitted that three prosecution witnesses gave different valuation reports on the project and this made it difficult for the court to arrive at a fair conclusion.
There was no evidence that investigators in the matter did any "scientific analysis and evaluation" of the project. Counsel contended that the prosecution failed to show that loans guaranteed for the company were not recoverable.
Mr Baah urged the court to hold as a fact that the project was viable, provided there was good management. Counsel said Peprah's role in the company's activities was to carry out official policy and urged the court to acquit and discharge him.
The other accused persons are, Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey, Nana Ato Dadzie and Kwesi Ahwoi, all former senior public officials.
They have all pleaded not guilty and each of them is on self-recognisance bail. Hearing continues on Tuesday, November 13.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Cape Coast (Central Region) 13 November 2001 - A Cape Coast circuit court on Monday remanded Patrick Essel, an ex- corporal of the Ghana Navy in prison custody for allegedly defiling an 8 year-old class two pupil of Breman Asikuma.
Essel, 39, who is also known as Yaw Appiah, pleaded guilty with explanation but his plea was changed to not guilty when he denied defiling the girl in his explanation. He is to be re-arraigned on Monday, November 19.
Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that the victim went to the house of the accused at Breman Asikuma on August 8 to play with her friends.
He alleged that the Essel, who is currently unemployed, called her into his room and defiled her and warned her not to disclose it to anyone.
Chief Inspector Azasoo further alleged that the girl's mother, however, detected blood in her urine and upon questioning by her grandfather, she narrated what Essel had done to her and a report was made to the Police. He was arrested and later charged with the offence.
In another development, Nana Essilfie, a 52 year old farmer from Assin Akyiase, was also remanded in custody by the court for allegedly defiling his 15 year-old step sister and would also be re-arraigned on Monday, November 19.
Chief Inspector Augustine Amonoo, who prosecuted, alleged that Essilfie carried out the act when the victim's mother, who is his stepmother, left her in his care and travelled to Twifo Praso sometime in May.
He said Essilfie allegedly joined the girl in her bed during the night and she cried out in pain when she woke up to discover him sexually abusing her, but the accused ignored her cries until she started bleeding.
The victim, later fled the house and reported the matter to one Madam Yaa Aso, who spent the rest of the night with her and a report was made to the Police the following day when the girl's mother returned from her trip.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com