Swapped- cocaine case has no time limit – State Attorney
Mr Rexford Anthony Wiredu, Chief State Attorney, on Monday told a circuit court in Accra that criminal cases have no time limit.
He said consequently, the prosecution of the case involving Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gifty Maweunyega Tehoda, the Senior Police Officer at the centre of the alleged cocaine swapping scandal, would start when facts are ready.
Mr Wiredu said: “We brought the accused to court, when we are ready we would start the case and nothing would stop us from doing that.”
Mr Wiredu’s comments followed previous accusations by the defence that the prosecution was unduly delaying the case because it had told the court at the last sitting that it was ready to present witnesses for the trial to begin.
Mr Ephraim A. Vorduagu, counsel for DSP Tehoda expressed worry about the prosecution and said its position on the case was dangerous to his client.
He explained that for the past two months, prosecution had not been able to produce the witnesses it said were ready to testify in the case.
Mr Vorduagu said that currently, his client who was on interdiction, had to bear the cost of all her legal expenses, “but as for the prosecution whether they expedited action on the case or not they would be paid their salaries”.
He, therefore, asked the court to compel the prosecution to start the case at the next adjourned date.
Mr Vorduagu said if at the next sitting the prosecution is unable to produce witnesses, he would ask the court to throw away the case against his client.
At this juncture, Mr Wiredu rose to his feet and said the comments made by the defence counsel were dangerous to DSP Tehoda.
He said if the defence carries out its threat and the accused is discharged, the prosecution would be forced to re-arrest her which would jeopardise her case.
Mr Wiredu said interdiction of the accused was not caused by the prosecution but by the Police Administration.
Miss Audrey Kokuvi Tay, the trial judge urged parties in the case to ensure that there was consistency from both sides to ensure prompt trial.
The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, April 10.
Source: GNA