Twelve persons remanded over Pokuase riots
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 November 2001- Victor Selormey, former Deputy Finance Minister, on Tuesday told the Fast Track Court that on November 25, 1998, he signed a contract of 1,106,685 dollars for consultancy services on the Court Computerisation Project.
He said the actual amount paid for the services provided by the Leebda Corporation of the United States (US) was 1,297,500 dollars, because the contract allowed some variations for actual work done.
Selormey was being cross-examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after he has tendered a contract document, which was signed between him and Dr Frederick Boadu, President of Leebda.
Selormey is charged with six counts of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing financial loss to the state. He has pleaded not guilty and is on 1.5 billion cedis bail with two sureties to be justified.
Accused had earlier tendered in evidence the contract document and a CD-ROM, which according to him, was produced by Dr Boadu as part of the project.
The former Deputy Minister agreed with a suggestion by the DPP that, even though, the contract stated that payments would be made in three instalments, he caused the fee to be paid in two instalments.
Selormey said the CD-ROM was the one Dr Boadu demonstrated to two judges of the superior courts and which contained copies of Legislative Instruments (LIs), legal authorities and statutes.
Leading counsel for the accused, Mr Johnny Quashie-Idun applied to the court for his client to tender a laptop computer, which could be used to demonstrate how the CD-ROM operated.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Sam Baddoo overruled the application saying that the contract document mentioned only the CD-ROM and not laptop computer.
A defence witness, Mr Nicholas Charles Agbevor, an Administrator at the Judicial Service said sometime in 1996, Dr Boadu called on the late Chief Justice, Mr Justice Isaac Abban and sold an idea of introducing a computer system into the Service.
Witness said he was present during the discussions after which the Dr Boadu was asked to come out with a "concrete programme" based on what was discussed.
Mr Agbevor said Dr Boadu wrote back and the late Chief Justice asked him (witness) to reply that he could commence work. Witness said he did not know whether the Judicial Service signed any contract with Dr Boadu.
Both sides rested their cases and the court adjourned proceedings to Monday, December 3 for both sides to submit their addresses.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 November 2001- An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Tuesday remanded in prison custody 12 out of 14 persons arraigned before it for their alleged involvement in a mob action at Pokuase, near Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region last weekend. Their remand was to enable the police to carry out further investigation into the incident.
The two others, who were released on bail were Bishop Richmond Danso of the African Christian Church and Emmanuel Kojo Adjei, a driver, both of whom pleaded not guilty to causing unlawful damage. They were each granted 20 million cedis bail with a surety to be justified to appear again on December 4.
The 12, including two women, all of whom pleaded not guilty to rioting and causing unlawful damage, would also reappear on December 4.
The tribunal chaired by Mr Ziblim Imoru heard that on November 23 the station officer in charge of the Pokuase Police station, Chief Inspector A.A. Adzani and one subordinate officer went to town and met Adjei fighting with one Richard Gameh Danyo and his brother, Michael Kofi Danyo in front of Bishop Danso's house.
They were arrested and escorted to the police station, but a mob numbering about 400 and armed with sticks, stones and other missiles followed the police to the station demanding the immediate release of the two brothers.
When their demand was refused the mob invaded the police station, attacked the policemen and marched to Bishop Danso's house and vandalised four vehicles and other properties.
The prosecution said Bishop Danso hired some men to break into Pastor Affranie's Preparatory school and destroyed windows and the school's billboard.
The following day the mob, numbering about 1,000 and wielding, cutlasses, knives, clubs and shovels attacked the police station again and invaded the police barracks.
They burnt down the radio communication equipment and a private car belonging to a police officer.
They also broke into the cells, freed three prisoners and destroyed 7.5 million cedis that were kept as exhibits. The police managed to arrest some of them but others escaped.
GRi…/
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