The lawyers representing Patience Botwe, an 18-year-old individual accused of masterminding a theft case involving $1 million and 300,000 euros at the former minister for Sanitation, Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s residence, have submitted a formal bail application at the Circuit Court in Accra.
However, the Prosecution has opposed the bail application and has served it to Botwe’s lawyers this morning.
Nana Addo Asrifi, the lead counsel for Patience Botwe, requested a brief adjournment to allow him to respond to the Prosecution’s affidavit opposing the bail application.
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, in the Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah, the bail application filed on behalf of Benjamin Sowah, the boyfriend of Patience Botwe, was rejected. The court decided that due to Sowah’s involvement in the alleged theft case and the circumstances surrounding his arrest in Tamale, granting him bail at this stage would not be appropriate.
However, Yahaya Sumaila, the seventh accused person and an excavator operator, had his bail application approved by the court. The prosecution, led by Akosua Agyaponmaa Agyemang, Assistant State Attorney, did not object to the bail request.
Sumaila was granted bail in the amount of GHc300,000, with two sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction and need to be justified. Additionally, he is required to deposit his passport at the court registry and report to the police every forth night.
Extension of Investigation Time
The Assistant State Attorney has requested a two-week adjournment, stating that the investigators have informed their office about the need for additional time to conclude their investigations.
She explained that the delay in concluding the investigations is due to the directions given to the investigators by the Attorney General’s office regarding the case docket.
DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, the police prosecutor, added that the investigators are currently in Kumasi conducting further investigation.
In response, the Court has instructed the prosecution to expedite their actions in order to ensure the trial can begin.
Additionally, the Court has directed the Prosecution to file their disclosures before the next court date, although the lawyers involved in the case have requested that the disclosures be filed prior to the next court sitting.
However, Patience Botwe, an 18-year-old hairdresser, Benjamin Sowah, a 29-year-old plumber, Malik Dauda, a 34-year-old unemployed individual, and Yahaya Sumaila, an excavator operator, have met their bail conditions and are no longer in custody. They will be able to resume their normal activities until the next court hearing on September 19, 2023.
Unfortunately, Job Pomary, a mechanic, Sarah Agyei, an unemployed individual, and Christina Achab, a trader, who are all lactating mothers, remain in lawful custody as they have not been able to meet their bail conditions.
All seven individuals have been accused of 14 counts, but their pleas have not yet been taken as investigations are still ongoing.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana
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