Woyome, two others granted bail
Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the businessman at the centre of the controversial GH¢51 million judgment debt, was on Monday admitted to bail by the Financial Divisional of Fast Track High Court in the sum of GH¢54 million with two sureties to be justified.
Samuel Neequaye Tetteh, a Chief State Attorney at the Attorney General’s Department, Paul Asimenu Head of Legal Duties, Ministry of Finance and Economic were also admitted to GH¢ 6,000 cedis bail each with sureties each to be justified.
All the accused persons are to report at the Police headquarters twice a week – Mondays and Fridays.
The Court presided over By Mr Justice John Ajet Nasam ordered Gifty, wife of the Chief State Attorney to be on her former bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with a surety because it was confirmed that she was a nursing mother.
She is also to report to the Police every Wednesday and Friday
At the trial on Monday morning, Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Chief State Attorney, prosecuting, did not oppose to granting of bail but asked that the accused persons should be ordered to report to the Police three times as investigations into the matter was ongoing.
Mr Robertson Kpatcha, counsel for Woyome, pleaded that his client should be made to report to the Police once a week.
Mr Addo Attuah, counsel for Samuel and Gifty prayed that Samuel be made to report to the Police twice in a week.
In the case of Mr Kwame Boafo Akuffo who represented Asimenu, he prayed the court to admit his client to a self cognizance bail because “he is a public officer”.
The court told the prosecution, “I don’t adjourn criminal cases more than one week I want to see the matter started.”
The matter was therefore adjourned to February 20.
The bail offered to the accused persons saw sympathizers drumming and dancing and praising God, some of them throwing white scarf in the air while others were seen wearing T-shirts with inscription such as “Free Woyome” in front and “God rules in the affairs of men,” written behind.
Another inscription was “Friends of Woyome,” displayed on the front of the T-Shirts and back, “Rule of Law must Work.”
Woyome who has been charged with conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences and corrupting a public officer has pleaded not guilty.
Asimenu and Neequaye-Tetteh being held for corruption of public officer and abetment of crime, have also denied the charges.
In the case of Gifty, she also denied the charge of abetment of crime.
Ms Lamptey, who presented the facts of the case at the last sitting, said during 2009 Woyome made the then Attorney General Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu to believe by stating that he had a contract with the Government of Ghana.
The contract according to the Chief State Attorney was in relation to the construction of five sports stadia but the contract was unlawfully abrogated.
Ms Lamptey said Woyome subsequently filed a writ at the High Court claiming that he was owed GH¢41 million to which he had added interest of GH¢10 million.
The Chief State Attorney said the money was paid in tranches, in February 2010, GH¢ 17, 094,493.53 was paid. In January and April 2011, GH¢10 million cedis each was paid respectively, while the last tranche of GHc14,188,987.06 was paid in September 12, 2011.
Ms Lamptey said preliminary investigations showed that government did not owe Woyome.
Additionally, Neequaye-Tetteh drafted letters to the Minister of Finance concerning the payment and he refused to go to court to defend the action.
According to Ms Lamptey, it was found out that Woyome transferred GH¢400,000 to Gifty’s account.
She said it was further disclosed that Asimenu wrote opinions and quoted figures and sent information which created conditions for Woyome to be paid monies which was not due him.
During investigations the four were picked up by the Police, the Chief State Attorney said.
Source: GNA