Judge erred for not allowing contract to be tendered - Counsel
Driver's mate remanded for attempting to snatch policeman's rifle
Businessman before tribunal for fraud
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 September 2001 - Leading counsel for Victor Selormey, a former Deputy Minister of Finance on Tuesday submitted that a contract was signed between Selormey and a Ghanaian consultant in the US on the Court Computerisation Project.
Mr Johnny Quashie-Idun said the trial judge at the Fast Track Court (FTC), Mr Justice Sam G Baddoo, therefore, erred in law for not allowing the contract document to be tendered through a defence witness.
Mr Quashie-Idun was making submissions in a case in which Selormey has appealed against a FTC ruling at the Court of Appeal. Mr Justice Baddoo last month ruled that only Selormey or the consultant could tender the contract since they were the only parties to it.
Selormey is charged with fraudulently causing a loss of 1.3 million dollars to the state. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and causing financial loss and is on a 1.5 billion-cedi bail with two sureties to be justified.
Counsel contended that the contract document was among documents, which solicitors of Selormey and the consultant submitted to Mr Sam Awortwi, head of investigations in the case at the Police Headquarters.
He submitted that the defence repeatedly applied to the trial court to recall Mr Awortwi, who had earlier given evidence, and tender the contract document through him but this was overruled.
Mr Quashie-Idun said it was wrong in law, for the court to deny the defence the opportunity to recall a witness, who had testified that there was a document on the contract among a number of documents received from the solicitors.
Counsel said it was equally wrong and inconceivable for the prosecution to perceive that there was no contract on a project for which 1.3 million dollars was paid. Hearing continues on Wednesday.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 September 2001 - Musah Ali, 28 year-old driver's mate who attempted to snatch the rifle of a policeman was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by a circuit tribunal in Accra.
He and an accomplice attempted to snatch the rifle loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition from Constable Kennedy Kudiabor of the Police Protection Unit. Ali who pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, attempting to commit crime, assault of public officer and use of unlicensed motorcycle will reappear on September 17.
The tribunal chaired by Mr Mohammed Nabon ordered the police to make efforts to arrest the accomplice of Ali now at large.
Prosecuting Inspector Joseph Anneh Kwame told the tribunal that at about 2000 hours while Constable Kudiabor was walking to his duty post at the China International Water and Electrical Company (CIWEC) at Odawna, he was knocked down by an unregistered motorcycle near the Ghana Commercial Bank at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle by the accused person and the accomplice.
The prosecution said Ali and his accomplice who were on the motorcycle pounced on the policeman, assaulted him and attempted to take his rifle away from him.
Constable Kudiabor blew his whistle and two other constables who were in the area rescued him and Ali was arrested but his accomplice escaped.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 September 2001- Atta Nti Peprah, a businessman, who allegedly defrauded a woman of 3,500 dollars under the pretext of securing an American visa for her brother, was on Monday arraigned at a circuit tribunal in Accra.
Peprah pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences and was granted a 30 million-cedi bail with a surety to be justified. He is to reappear on September 27.
The tribunal, chaired by Mr Imoru Ziblim, heard that the complainant, Nana Yaa Antwiwaa, who is based in the US, wanted her brother, Jackson Mensah to join her.
The prosecution said Nana Antwiwaa, who knew Peprah, contacted him on the subject and he claimed he could assist with the travel documents.
Chief Inspector Adu said Peprah charged Nana Antwiwaa 5,000 dollars for the documents. On November 11, last year, Nana Antwiwaa made a part payment of 3,500 dollars to Peprah, but he failed to produce the documents and went into hiding.
GRi /
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com