WOYOME’S DAY IN COURT

By Helena Selby

An Accra based Businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome has been remanded into police custody, after he was refused bail yesterday by an Accra Financial Court over his role in the controversial GH¢51 million judgement debt paid to him.

He has been formally charged with conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretense and corrupting public officials, when he was arraigned together with three other people before the court, presided over by Justice John Ajet-Nasam.

The three other accused persons are Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, a Chief State Attorney, Paul Asimenu, a Director at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Gifty Tetteh, Businesswoman and wife of Samuel Tetteh.

Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh and Paul Asimenu were also remanded into custody, while Gifty Tetteh was admitted into bail in the sum of GH¢500,000.00 with two sureties, with the condition that she reports herself to the police twice a week.

Woyome is alleged to have succeeded in obtaining GH¢51 million from Government, allegedly influence the conduct of the second accused person, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, with an amount of GH¢400,000.00 to create condition for him to be paid the monies.

The third accused person, Asimenu, was alleged to have aided Woyome to defraud, while Gifty Tetteh, fourth accused, aided the second accused person, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, in committing an act of corruption by a public officer.

Woyome is facing three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretense and corruption of a public officer, while the second accused person, Samuel Tetteh is facing the charge of corrupting a public officer.

The third and fourth accused persons, Asimenu and Gifty Tetteh respectively, on the other hand are facing the one count of abetment of crime but the third accused person is facing an additional count of conspiracy to commit crime.

All accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against them before the court. The presence of Woyome in court resulted in dozens of loyalists thronging the court premises, in solidarity with the businessman.

The Chief State Attorney, Miss Evelyn Lamptey, requested that the court remand them into custody since they need time to conclude the investigation, adding that granting them bail would lead to interfering with investigations.

In his application for bail, counsel for Woyome, Mr. Robertson Gbatsa told the court that the facts being read in court so far was not entirely the truth and that the amount that were paid to his client was as a result of a judgment of a competent court of law.

According to him, his client would in no way interfere with investigation since he had already provided the necessary documents needed for police investigation, adding that he had been in custody since February 3, 2011, and needs to be granted bail to have access to his lawyer and also have time to prepare for his defense.

The counsels of the rest of the accused persons pleaded for their clients to be granted bail almost on the same grounds. However, the court refused to grant them bail, with the exception of the fourth accused person, Gifty Tetteh, who was noted to be a nursing mother.

The case was therefore adjourned to February 13, 2012, for continuation.

Briefing the court on the facts of the case, the prosecutor mentioned that during 2009, Woyome made a false representation to the then Attorney General, Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu that he had a contract with the government of Ghana, regarding the construction of five sports stadia, but the contract was unlawfully abrogated.

She said Woyome filed a writ at the High Court claiming that he was owed an amount of GH¢41 million to which he added interest to make it a total of GH¢51 million. “The amount was paid in tranches, that is on February 2010, he was paid GH¢ 17,094,493.53, the second tranche was on January 27, 2011, which he was paid GH¢ million, the rest of the tranche was on April 18, 2011 with GH¢10 million and September 12, 2011, GH¢14188987.06”, the prosecutor told the court.

The Chief State Attorney noted that investigations had shown that Government does not owe him any money, with further investigations also revealing that the second accused person, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, in charge of the case, drafted to the Ministry of Finance concerning the payment, as he failed to defend his actions before the court.

She said it was also found out that Woyome transferred GH¢400,000 into the account of the second accused person.

Trader convicted for bigamy

By Helena Selby

A trader has been sentenced to six months in prison for marrying a second wife, without annulling his previous legal marriage.
The accused person, Yaw Boamah Sarpong, who is married to the complainant under ordinance and with two children, was caught red-handed by his first wife getting engaged to one Nina.
He was charged with bigamy contrary to section 262 of Act 29/60. He pleaded guilty to the charge leveled against him and was convicted on his own plea before the court, presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Agbemeva.
The court, therefore, sentenced him to 25 penalty unit, an equivalent of GH¢300.00 and in default, 6months imprisonment in hard labour.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Sarah Acquah told the court that the accused person and the complainant were living as family with their two children, until after a misunderstanding, when the accused made the complainant to move to her parent’s house.
She said the complainant, however, on December 26, 2011, had information that the accused person was engaging another woman named Nina. “The complainant quickly went to the scene and realised her husband had actually engaged another woman.
The complainant then reported the case to the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the accused person was arrested, the prosecutor added.
ASP Acquah mentioned that the accused person admitted the offence in his cautioned statement and said he had nothing doing with the complainant anymore.
Meanwhile, in the same court, a retired Economist has caused his wife to be arraigned before the court for allegedly stealing his personal and land documents.
The accused person, Ablavi Esinam Duhadzi allegedly stole document covering one plot of land with an Executive Ville, two plots of land with foundation and fence at Denu, both in Viepe in the Volta Region, six plots of land at Tokor and four plots of land at Pokuase.
The accused person allegedly denied stealing the document but was however discovered that she was selling some of the plots of land the stolen documents are covering. She was charged with stealing. However, her plea was not taken since her husband claimed to be no longer interested in the case; the accused person was then discharged.
The facts of the case are that one January 20, 2012 the complainant found out that his brief case containing his personal and land documents have been stolen from his bedroom which he shares with the accused person.
According to the prosecutor, ASP IAA Ahor the complainant enquired from his family as to who might have taken the documents but they all denied knowledge of it including the accused person.
“However on January 25, 2012, the complainant had information that his wife has sold his piece of land at Denu to two people and that she is having the document to the said land.
It was there that the complainant discovered his wife stole the document. A report was made to DOVVSU office in Nungua a suburb of Accra and the accused person was arrested,” the prosecutor added.

Driver jailed 7yrs for defilement

By: Helena Selby

An Accra Circuit court yesterday sentences a-28-year-old driver to seven years imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with a-14-year-old girl.
The accused person, Jefferson Afavi, who lives in the same vicinity with the victim, pushed down the victim, dragged her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her.
Afavi, who pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement contrary to section 101 (2) of act 29/60 as amended by section 11 of act 554/98 was then convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Agbemeva.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector IAA Ahor told the court that on February 3, 2012, at about 5:30pm, Afavi sent the victim to buy a bag of sachet water for him.
According to him, when the victim returned with the bag of water, Afavi met her at his door step, pushed her down and further dragged her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her.
“The accused person then warned the victim not to disclose it to anyone, but the victim went home and informed her mother, who also saw the victim’s skirt and pant stained with blood”, the prosecutor noted.
The prosecution further indicated that the complainant immediately went to the La police station and lodged a complaint which the police in turn issued her with a police medical report form to take the victim to the hospital.
The Chief Inspector told the court that the victim was sent to the La General Hospital, where she was admitted overnight, and a report submitted on her.
According to him the case was referred to the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and Afavi was arrested. Upon his arrest, Afavi admitted the offence.

Driver, Unemployed in court over Mercury scam

By: Helena Selby

A driver and an unemployed, who allegedly presented some quantities of cement to a small scale miner, under the pretext of it being mercury element, have been arraigned before an Accra circuit court.

The accused persons, Felix Akoto and Reuben Nyamado, allegedly collected GH¢9,000 and presented the cement to the complainant instead of mercury and went into hiding.

Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretense contrary to section 23 (1) of act 1960, before the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh. They have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with two sureties each, and are expected to re-appear before the court on February 28, 2012.

Both accused persons have so far been able to refund GH¢2,000 and promised to bring the rest on the next adjourned date.

The underlining facts are that in May 2011, the complainant was looking for a quantity of mercury element to buy when the accused persons agreed and acted together to defraud the complainant in Adenta, suburb of Accra.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester said the accused persons collected a cash amount of GH¢9000 from the complainant and brought him some quantity of cement in a polythene bag.

According to him, the complainant tested the content and detected that it was cement. The complainant, therefore, confronted the accused persons but both of them could not give any tangible explanation adding that every effort made by the complainant for the refund of his money proved futile.

“On October 28, 2011 the complainant reported the case to the police. The accused persons were arrested. In their caution statement they admitted having collected the money but handed it over to one alhaji who produced the said mercury element” the prosecutor noted. He said the accused persons could not assist the police to trace the said Alhaji.

Meanwhile, a businessman was arraigned before the same court for allegedly damaging property worth GH¢895,932 belonging to an auto mechanic.

The accused person, Jeffery Laryea, was alleged to have assumed legal ownership a piece of land the complainant was place in-charge after renting it for almost 10 years and destroyed several items on the said land.

He allegedly destroyed the complainant’s property situated on the land under the pretext of protecting his land. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing damage and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢40,000 with two sureties. He is expected to re-appear before the court on March 7, 2012.

The brief facts are that in 2000, the complainant rented a parcel of land situated at Chorkor “T” garden area from one Ben Halm for a work shop for a period of 10 years at the price of GH¢4,800.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester said in return, Ben Halm handed the indenture and the tenancy agreement between the two of them to the complainant, adding that the complainant put up an auto mechanic workshop on the land without any interference from anyone.

“In 2006, the accused person filed a writ at a court claiming ownership of the same land the complainant was occupying. The land lord was informed but he denied having ever sold the land to the accused person”, the prosecutor told the court.

He further stated that on January 9, 2007, the accused person went to the complainant’s workshop in his absence and caused damage to the items. According to him on January 10, 2007, the complainant lodged a complaint at the police and the accused person was arrested

Cocaine-turned soda power saga Prosecution pleads for more time …to complete investigations

By: Helena Selby

The prosecution handling the controversial cocaine-turned-soda powder case, involving the Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police CID, DSP Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda, yesterday, pleading with an Accra Circuit Court to grant it more time to complete with the investigations into the issue.

According to the Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu, investigations into the case were still on-going as there is the possibility of transferring the case to the High court depending on the outcome.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Taycase, therefore, adjourned hearing to March 5, 2012.

The accused person, who pleaded not guilty to charges of abetting and undertaking an activity without lawful authority is on a GH¢100,000.00 bail with 2 sureties, one to be justified.

It is the case of the state put against DSP Tehoda that following directives from the Vice President John Mahama on December 4th, 2011, to the BNI to launch investigations into the loss of 1020 grams of cocaine, which was tendered as evidence before a circuit court on September 2011 and admitted without objection.

According to the prosecution, the following day, September 28, 2011, the defense counsel objected to the evidence, indicating that it was not cocaine.

The Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu further told the court that evidence would be led to show that one Mr. Yankey and Serwah Djabah, uncle and sister of Nana Ama Martins told a witness in the case that they have been able, with the help of DSP Tehoda, to turn the cocaine into Soda powder after the judge had turned down some monetary rewards given him.

The prosecution indicated that an amount of GH¢4,000.00 was meant to be given to the trial judge, who handled the case in which Nana Ama Martins was charged for possessing cocaine, andGH¢1,000.00 was meant for one Lawani, a court clerk, adding that a family member of Nana Ama Martins, one Beatrice Naab had confirmed the act.

The prosecution noted that the witness was asked not to tell anybody about the role played by DSP Tehoda, adding that the witness mentioned having contacted Mr. Kobla Senanu, counsel for Nana Ama Martins and demanded money from Serwah Djabah to pay his legal fees of GH¢10,000.00.

It is the case of the prosecution that Serwah Djabah has indicated that she had no such money to pay the legal fee, so according to the witness, they agreed to sell off the property of Nana Ama Martins to off-set the expense incurred in the case.

The court further heard that the uncle of Nana Ama Martins decided to sell the property of his niece to defray the expenses by giving the proceeds to DSP Tehoda, who called Lawyer Senanu to her office, where he paid his legal fees.

“The accused person told the lawyer that they have managed to swap the cocaine into Soda-Carbonate and that he should request for a re-test”, the prosecutor told the court, noting that the advice was followed, resulting in the final discharge of Nana Ama Martins.

Mr. Wiredu told the court that he would lead evidence to show how DSP Tehoda jubilated in her office on hearing the eventual discharge of Nana Ama Martins of charges of possessing cocaine, stressing that the accused person facilitated the swapping of the cocaine exhibits into soda-carbonate.

3 Nima Youth remanded …. for use of offensive weapons

By: Helena Selby

A businessman and two others, who allegedly inflicted severe wounds on some residents in Nima, in the Greater Accra Region have been remanded into custody after fresh charges were brought against them.
The accused persons, Ibrahim Kumordzi, Businessman, Mohammed Karim, driver’s mate and Mohammed Suala, trader, who were previously granted bail, ended up in custody again, after their charges were substituted with new charges.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills- Tetteh, however, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a fourth accused person, Sulley Fuseini alias Achi Dun –Du, a goal keeper, who failed to appear in court.
All the accused persons, who are residents of Nima, allegedly organized a demonstration upon the arrest of some of youth in area.
The accused persons, who organized a demonstration against the Nima police and the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Committee, for the release of some of their colleagues, who were in custody, allegedly vented their spleen on the Nima police and in the process inflicting severe cutlass wounds on one Amadu Ibrahim Jabkle and Mohammed Tetteh, alias TT.
The accused persons were also alleged to have had in their possession, offensive weapons like cutlass, sticks and missiles.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime, contrary to section 23 (1) of act 29/60 and two counts of use of offensive weapons contrary to section 70 of act 29/60, when they appeared before the court. The case has therefore been adjourned to March 28, 2012.
The brief facts are that due to the numerous criminal activities in Nima and its environs, the Nima Police on November 15, 2011, mounted a swoop and arrested five suspects from their various ghettos.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector B.O Yeboah told the court that the exercise infuriated the passion of the accused persons and others now at large who led a group of youth, armed with cutlass and other missiles, with the view of freeing those arrested by the police, but failed.
“At about 8:00pm the same night, the same group of Nimayouth, led by the accused persons and their accomplices, armed with cutlass, sticks and other implements vented their temper on the members of the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Committee”, he noted.
According to him, they attacked them, claiming they instigated the police operations and in the process inflicted severe cutlass wounds on the complainant, who became unconscious as a result of excessive bleeding, adding that they were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The prosecution further indicated that the victims were admitted and later discharged after treatment. On November 28, 2011, the accused persons were arrested from their hide out by some members of the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Committee, and handed them over to the police.

Internet escapade lands trader in court

By Helena Selby

An internet escapade has landed an Accra-based trader into trouble with the law, after he allegedly defrauded a teacher in the Northern Region, of an amount of GH¢14,000 with the pretence of buying some seeds.
The accused person, Joseph Addo has, therefore, been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay, after he was arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence.
Joseph Addo allegedly conspired with two others to convince the complainant to buy some seeds equivalent to the said amount from their accomplices.
Nana Osei and Kojo Acheampong, who are accomplices to the crime, are currently at large. The accused and his accomplices allegedly swayed the complainant to buy as much as possible, since it was in urgent need in the United Kingdom (UK), for the manufacture of drugs.
Addo pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him, and he is expected to re-appear before the court on March 8, 2012.
Briefing the court, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester disclosed that in November 2011, the complainant was contacted by a lady through the internet, who introduced herself as a nurse in the United Kingdom.
According to him, the said nurse told the complainant that a doctor, whom she works with, needed some seeds for medical purposes adding that she had an agent in Ghana, who could assist him, and she ended up taking the complainant’s mobile phone number.
“Later, one Nana Osei called the complainant in Ghana, claiming to be an agent for the lady and requested the complainant to get him a sample of the seed. The lady also gave the supplier’s number to the complainant, who introduced himself as Mr. Boateng”, the prosecutor told the court.
He said Nana Osei then directed the complainant to the Kaneshie Market, where he could buy the sample for GH¢150 and then sell it to the agent at a cost of GH¢230.
The prosecutor further noted that since the complainant was in Tamale, he directed a witness, Bilali Yakubu, who is his brother in Accra to Kaneshie Market and bought the seed from the second witness, Abdul Narsre Kassim.
Chief Inspector Chester stated that the witness Bilali Yakubu was directed to Nana Osei, the agent now at large, who bought the sample of the seed at GH¢230.
“Nana Osei then called the complainant that the sample was good, so he should get him about “hundred sachets”, the prosecutor indicated, adding that the supplier directed the complainant to Nkawkaw thereafter and bought hundred sachets of seeds at the cost of GH¢14,000.
On reaching Accra, the complainant called the agent, Nana Osei and the supplier, Mr. Boateng, but their phones were switched off.
“The complainant then released that he has been defrauded and reported the case to the ministries police”, the prosecutor told the court.
According to the prosecutor, during investigation, the witness, Bilali Yakubu led the police to the second witness, Abdul Nasere Kassim, where he bought the sample seed, adding that the second witness told the police that it was the accused person, who bought the seeds for him.
The prosecutor pointed out that the witness had informed the police that the accused person has so far bought three sachets of the seeds to him and normally direct people to come for the seeds and deposit the sum of GH¢150 for each seed.

Land guard in alleged robbery case

By Helena Selby

A land guard has been remanded in custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly taking part in robbing a Petrol filling station in Accra.

The accused person, George Atakora Fosu, alias Stopper, allegedly invaded the premises of the filling station with three others, who are currently at large, and made away with unspecified amount of money and mobile phones.

Fosu and his accomplices were also alleged to have shot one of the pump attendants and the supervisor of the filling station after their operation, and further hijacked and shot the driver of a taxi cab, with registration number G.W 3931-11, as well as a passenger on board the taxi at the time.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery contrary to section 23 (1) 149 of act 29/60, when he was arraigned before the court presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kokouvie-Tay.

He is, therefore, expected to re-appear before the court on March 19, 2012. The brief facts of the case are that on January 19, 2012, four men armed with pump action gun, attacked the Lily Gold filling station between the hours of 8:00pm and 9:00pm.

According to the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, the four armed men on board a Nissan Amera taxi cab, with the said registration number, attacked the filling station.

He said they attacked one of the pump attendants, the supervisor and the security man, and robbed them of an amount of money and some belongings.

The Prosecutor told the court that in the process of their exercise, the armed men shot and killed Gifty Antwi, who is the pump attendant, and Mohammed, the security man on duty.

“The police investigations later revealed that the same four armed men, before attacking the filling station hijacked the said taxi cab, killed the driver and one passenger on board”, the prosecutor pointed out.

Chief Inspector Chester further noted that an in-depth investigation into the incident led to the arrest of the accused person as one of the armed men, who robbed the filling station.

He noted that an identification parade was held at the Regional Criminal Investigation Department (RCID) in Accra and the accused person was identified by one of the pump attendants as one of the robbers, who attacked and killed two of her colleagues.

State to commence case against DSP Tehoda on March 19

by Helena Selby

The prosecutor in charge of the contentious cocaine-turned-soda powder saga involving the Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police CID, yesterday told the court that the state was likely to begin trial of the case on the next adjourned date.

The Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu indicated to the court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay that he would be ready with witnesses to give evidence in the case against the accused person, DSP Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor had complained about the accused person’s failure to comply with the bail conditions given to her by the Fast Track Court (FTC), adding that the accused person had failed to report once a week to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), where she could be formally charged with the substituted charges.

The accused person, who is currently on charges of abetting and undertaking an activity without lawful authority is on a GH¢100,000.00 bail with 2 sureties, one to be justified. The case was therefore adjourned to March 19, 2012 for hearing.

Presenting the facts of the case, the Principal State Attorney, Mr. Wiredu, had informed the court that following directives from the Vice President, John Mahama on December 4, 2011, to the BNI to launch investigations into the loss of 1020grams of cocaine, which was tendered as evidence before a circuit court on September 2011 and admitted without objection.

According to the prosecution, the following day, September 28, 2011, the defence counsel objected to the evidence, indicating that it was not cocaine.

Mr. Wiredu further told the court that evidence would be led to show that one Mr. Yankey and Serwah Djabah, uncle and sister of Nana Ama Martins told a witness in the case that they have been able with the help of DSP Tehoda, to turn the cocaine into Soda powder after the judge had turned down some monetary rewards given him.

The prosecution indicated that an amount of GH¢4,000.00 was meant to be given to the trial judge, who handled the case in which Nana Ama Martins was charged for possessing cocaine, and GH¢1,000.00 was meant for one Lawani, a court clerk, adding that a family member of Nana Ama Martins, one Beatrice Naab had confirmed the act.

The prosecution noted that the witness was asked not to tell anybody about the role played by DSP Tehoda, adding that the witness mentioned having contacted Mr. Kobla Senanu, counsel for Nana Ama Martins and demanded money from Serwah Djabah to pay his legal fees of GH¢10,000.00.

It is the case of the prosecution that Serwah Djabah has indicated that she had no such money to pay the legal fee so, according to the witness; they agreed to sell off the property of Nana Ama Martins to off-set the expense incurred in the case.

The court further heard that the uncle of Nana Ama Martins decided to sell the property of his niece to defray the expenses by giving the proceeds to DSP Tehoda, who called Lawyer Senanu to her office, where he paid his legal fees.

“The accused person told the lawyer that they have managed to swap the cocaine into Soda-Carbonate and that he should request for a re-test”, the prosecutor told the court, noting that the advice was followed, resulting in the final discharge of Nana Ama Martins.

Mr. Wiredu told the court that he would lead evidence to show how DSP Tehoda jubilated in her office on hearing the eventual discharge of Nana Ama Martins of charges of possessing cocaine, stressing that the accused person facilitated the swapping of the cocaine exhibits into soda-carbonate.

MV Benjamin 77 parcels of Cocaine Docket on Asem Dake before A-G

By Helena Selby

State prosecutors prosecuting the fugitive involved in the importation of 77 parcels of cocaine on board the notorious MV Benjamin Vessel, yesterday told the court that the investigation team handling the case had forwarded the duplicate docket to the Attorney General (AG) for advice.

The prosecutor, DSP A.A. Annor, who stated on the last adjournment that investigators of the case were on the verge of rounding-up with the inquiry, mentioned that the first docket was with the AG, and that it was believed that once the duplicate was forwarded to the AG, he will be able to reconcile both, and come out with advice.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay, once again, denied the accused person bail, following the bail application by his counsel.

Counsel for the accused person pointed out that the duplicate docket was supposed to be presented to the AG as part of the former docket, adding that prosecution was deliberately delaying the trial.

The accused person, Christian Asem Dake, a.k.a Limping Man, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime, possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and importing and transportation of narcotic drugs without license.

The case was, therefore, adjourned to March 21, 2012.

The Prosecuting Officer, who presented the facts of the case, had informed the court that on April 26, 2006, intelligence gathered indicated that a shipping vessel called MV Benjamin was on the high seas carrying about 77 parcels of cocaine, and heading towards the West African coast, specifically, Ghana.

He said around midnight the same day, the said vessel docked at Tema/Kpone and discharged the 77 parcels, which were offloaded into a waiting vehicle and taken away.

According to him, investigations led to the arrest of a number of persons, who were put before various courts, tried, and convicted to various prison terms.

He mentioned that during the course of the trials of the suspects, the name of Asem Dake featured prominently as the importer and owner of the 77 parcels.

He, therefore, told the court that ‘Limping Man’ chartered a vessel at the cost of $150,000 to transport another vessel carrying the narcotic drugs from Guinea, and which were then offloaded into the MV Benjamin on the high seas.

The prosecutor said the accused person reportedly carted the 77 parcels from the vessel on its arrival at Kpone.

According to him, on Thursday, February 2, 2012, Asem Dake was arrested at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital upon a tip-off, and consequently arraigned.

The police picked him up and handed him over to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to commence investigations into the case.

Canada-based driver in the dock … for defrauding a farmer & church elder

By: Helena Selby

A driver, based in Canada and who posed as an international car dealer, has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court for allegedly defrauding a farmer and a church elder of a total amount of US$37,790.
The accused person, Bruce Amoah Korankye, aka Tony Walters, allegedly succeeded in collecting the said amount under the pretext of shipping from Canada a CLK Mercedes Benz, Toyota RAV 4, Toyota Corolla, Honda CRV, and GL Mercedes Benz 4×4 vehicles to the complainants.
He allegedly collected US$27,790 and US$10,000 from the complainants, Isaac Aryeetey, a farmer, and Daniel Owusu, a church elder, respectively, and went into hiding.
He pleaded not guilty to two counts of defrauding by false pretense, before the court presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvi-Tay.
He has refunded US$5,000 and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with three sureties, two to be justified, and his passport deposited with the Court Registrar.
He is further expected to re-appear before the court on March 30, 2012.
The facts of the case are that in 2006, the complainant met the accused person in Canada and through that they became friends.
According to the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, the accused person convinced the complainant that he exports cars to Ghana for sale, and succeeded in winning the trust of the complainant.
The prosecutor noted that the accused person paid a visit to his relatives in Ghana in 2010, and through that the complainant led him to his church elder, Daniel Owusu, second complainant in this case.
According to him, in the course of a conversation with the second complainant about car dealings, the accused person succeeded in collecting US$10,000 from him as part payment for a GL Mercedes Benz 4×4, which he was going to send down to him.
Chief Inspector Chester mentioned that the accused person, after collecting the money, travelled back to Canada and asked the second complainant to give him the remaining balance of US$9,600 and US$50 to the first complainant, Isaac Ayeetey, to transfer to him.
“The accused person later informed a witness in this case, Nana Abban, that he can send him nice cars from Canada to buy, to which the witness showed interest.”
The accused person, however, directed this said witness to send US$13,200 through the first complainant in order for him to send him a Toyota Corolla and RAV 4 cars.
“In view of the confidence the first complainant had in the accused person, he also gave US$5,000 to the accused person to buy him a Honda CR car”, the prosecutor told the court.
Chief Inspector Chester pointed out that the accused person, after succeeding in collecting US$37,790 from the complainants, never sent the cars and went into hiding anytime he came to Ghana.
According to him, on March 3, 2012, the accused person was arrested from his hideout at Madina, a suburb of Accra, adding that during investigations the accused person admitted having collected the said money from the complainants.

Salesman gets three years for stealing

By: Helena Selby

A former salesman of Don Emilio Company Limited in Accra has been sentenced to three years in hard labour by an Accra High Court for refusing to account for the loss of GH¢11,002.40 belonging to the company.

The accused person, Edmund Tenkorang, blamed the loss on customers of the company, who he claimed, owe the company the said amount. He however, was not able to give the names of the customers he claimed were the cause of the loss.

He was charged with stealing, contrary to section 24 (1) of the criminal code, and pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against him before the court presided over by Justice C.A Wilson. The court, however, found him guilty, after the prosecution proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt. He was sentenced and ordered by the court to refund the said amount to the company.

According to the court, the manager, in his evidence, indicated that a meeting was held with the accused person and the Managing Director of the company, where the accused was asked how long it would take to pay the money. The accused, however, promised to pay within three months, but couldn’t fulfill his promise.

The evidence of the police investigator further disclosed that the accused person claimed he delivered the goods to customers in Kumasi and Obuasi, but was not paid, and based on that, they conducted further investigations.

“Though the accused person insisted that he supplied goods to various customers at different locations, and that there were unpaid debts owed by some customers, the accused person could not provide any documentation to support his defense. Given the fact that he could not account for it, the only logical inference was that the accused person appropriated the monies he received from the customers, and failed to pay them into the company’s accounts.

The accused person could have saved himself of the prosecution of the charges by repaying the amount he wrongly appropriated to the company,” the court emphasised.

The presiding judge, in his judgment, stated that the police investigator said in Kumasi the accused person led them to only one woman whom he alleged to be one of the customers, but investigations revealed the said woman owed GH¢300 plus.

According to the court, the police investigator noted that at Obuasi, the accused person could not show the investigative team any customer, but rather showed a particular spot where an alleged customer used to work.

Additionally, the investigator noted that investigations in both Kumasi and Obuasi could not trace any of the alleged customers the accused person had mentioned.

However, the accused person, in his defense, noted that he supplied goods to various customers of the company at different locations, including Obuasi and Kumasi. He said any money he received from the customers was paid into the company’s account.

According to him, he paid with a number of cheques, some of which were dishonoured.

Trader in brawl with co-tenant

By Helena Selby

A trader has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court for allegedly inflicting wounds on a co-tenant, over an allegation of her being a lesbian.
The accused person, Ayishetu Amidu, who is said to be at loggerheads with the complainant, became furious after she heard rumors of the complainant tarnishing her image in the neighbourhood.

She allegedly hit the complainant with an object on her forehead, after the complainant labeled her as a thief and a lesbian, who engages in the said act with the landlady’s daughter.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing harm, contrary to section 69 of act 29/60, before the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh.
She has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with one surety, and expected to re-appear before the court on March 27, 2012.

Narrating the facts of the case, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, told the court that the accused person had a long outstanding difference with the complainant for about three years due to a false allegation leveled against her by the complainant.

He said the complainant was alleged to have leveled an unsubstantiated allegation on the accused person that she had stolen her undisclosed amount of money and some quantity of provisions from her store. This, he said, created some ill feelings between the two of them, but was later resolved by the landlady.
According to the Prosecutor, in early February 2012, one Amama was alleged to have told the accused person that the complainant had still been insulting her in the neighbourhood that she was a thief.

“Moreover, the said Amama told the accused person that the complainant had accused her of being a lesbian, and that she is practicing it with the landlady’s daughter. The accused person upon hearing, became peeved, igniting their ill feelings,” the prosecutor indicated.
Chief Inspector Chester noted that in February, the accused person told her husband to warn the complainant to desist from her constant backbiting, but the she became furious and began shouting.

He mentioned that the accused person, on seeing the reaction of the complainant, also became very furious and hit her with an object on her forehead, resulting in a deep cut.
Chief Inspector Charles Chester, therefore, told the court that the complainant was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital as a result of the deep cut she sustained, and was admitted for three days and discharged afterwards.

The prosecutor emphasised that both the accused person and the complainant reported at the police station and were issued with police medical forms to attend hospital and report, adding that during investigations, the accused person denied hitting the complainant with an object.

Retired civil servant in GH¢40,000 land fraud

By Helena Selby
A retired civil servant has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court for allegedly collecting an amount of GH¢40,000.00 from a land surveyor, with the pretext of selling to him a land at Adjiriganor, near East Legon, a suburb of Accra.

The accused person, Vivian Adu Acheampong, who had no title to the land, has been charged with fraud for selling a plot of land. She pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Mr. Eric Kyei Baffour and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢45,000.00 with two sureties to be justified.

She is, therefore, expected to re-appear before the court on April 8, 2011. The facts of the case indicate that in April 2010, the accused person approached the complainant and informed him of the sale of a piece of land she owned at Adjiringanor in East Legon.

The prosecutor, ASP Reynolds Agyemang, noted that the accused person had noted that the land belongs to her late brother, who sold it to one Beatrice Aboagyewah Bamfo, who currently resides in the United State of America, and who had consented to the sale of the land.

He said the accused person priced the land at GH¢60,000.00 -which the complainant paid GH¢40,000.00 to the accused person, and issued a cheque of GH¢20,000.00 in the name of Beatrice Aboagyewah Bamfo.

ASP Agyemang mentioned that when the complainant went to develop the land he was chased out, after which he drew the accused person's attention and asked her to withdraw the cheque, which was in the name of Aboagyewah

Bamfo, since he was no more interested in a land under litigation.

'The accused person agreed but failed to honour her promisesk despite several demands. A report was made to the police and the accused was arrested', the prosecution told the court.

Court remands unemployed for murder

BY HELENA SELBY

An unemployed, who allegedly robbed and stabbed the throat of a student, has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court. The accused person, Andrew Akpata, alias Outtara, is alleged to have murdered the deceased in cold blood at Madina, a suburb of Accra.

He has been charged with four counts of robbery, carrying offensive weapon, possessing narcotic drug and murder. He pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Mr. Eric Kyei Baffour. He has been remanded into custody to re-appear before the court on April 20, 2011.

The facts of the case indicate that on March 16, 2011, at about 10 am, the deceased, Bright Boadi travelled to Ashanti Mampong in the Ashanti Region to collect his school fees from his father.

According to the prosecutor, Inspector J.K. Anim, at about 2:15 a.m on March 17, 2011, the deceased returned to Madina, after receiving an amount of GH¢250.00 from his father as part payment of the school fees.

He told the court that about 50 meters to the deceased home, the accused person and his accomplice, who is now at large, attacked the deceased with a knife and robbed him of his mobile phone, valued at GH¢120.00 and a cash amount of GH¢250.00.

“The accused and his accomplice, having robbed the deceased of his belongings, stabbed him in the throat. The deceased who managed to reach his house, was rushed to the hospital but died shortly on arrival,” the prosecutor added.

He further mentioned that in the course of the investigation, the name of the accused person featured, leading to his arrest, adding that at the time of his arrest the accused person had in his possession 25 wrappers of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and three jack knives and two scissors.

Inspector Anim said in his caution statement that the accused person admitted having formed a club where members contribute to the purchase of the suspected dry leaves.

The prosecutor asked the court to remand the accused in order for the police to have ample time to complete with the investigation.