Court turns down bail application for Dr Obengfo
An Accra High Court on Wednesday turned down a bail application filed by Dr Dominic Kwame Obeng-Andoh, Chief Executive Officer of Obengfo Hospital who is being held for the murder of Stacy Offie Darko.
Ms Darko until her death was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme at the Presidency.
The Court presided over by Mr Justice Kofi Dorgu held that it was premature to grant bail.
According to the Court some cases took time for investigation to be completed, adding that the autopsy report of the late Ms Offie Darko was not ready.
The Court however advised Dr Obengfo to repeat the bail application at a later date.
However, Edward Amponsah, a cleaner at the Hospital who is being held on charge of impersonation, has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢20,000.00 with two sureties who must have a fixed place of abode.
The Court also ordered Amponsah to deposit his two passport pictures at the Court’s registry.
Amponsah is being held for presenting himself as a relation of the deceased and managed to deposit the body at the Saint Gregory Morgue.
According to the Court, Amponsah was granted bail because the Court thought he posed no threat to the investigations, adding that Amponsah might have been acting on instructions of his employer.
At the last sitting on Thursday June 21, the Court fixed June 27 for the ruling on the bail application of Dr Obengfo.
This was after the Court presided over by Mr Justice Dorgu had heard defence counsel and a lawyer from the Attorney General’s office on the bail pending trial application filed on behalf of Dr Obengfo and his cleaner, Edward Amponsh who is also being held for impersonation.
Mr Ashong Okai, a Senior Attorney, had vehemently opposed the bail application on the basis that investigations into the various roles played by the accused had not been completed.
Mr Okai said if Dr Obengfo and his cleaner were granted bail they would interfere with the witnesses and evidence because the incident took place at Dr Obengfo’s health facility.
The State Attorney told the Court that Dr Obengfo may commit further offences because the facility was in existence whether locked or opened.
He further informed the Court that the autopsy on the deceased Stacy Offei-Darko was not out yet and invited the Court to take a look at the circumstance of the matter.
Mr Okai explained that before surgeries were conducted at health facilities, relations of the sick person have portions on a form where names and phone numbers were provided.
He however said that though the Court had the power to grant bail it should exercise its discretion judiciously.
Mr Jonathan Dzaisu, one of the defence lawyers, said Dr Obengfo had practiced medicine for over 20 years and has worked at the Battor Hospital and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to Mr Dzaisu due to the success of Dr Obengfo’s practise, he established his own medical facility.
Defence counsel told the Court that Ms Offei Darko had been Dr Obengfo’s client since 2014 and had undergone similar procedures in 2017.
He said the Ms Offei Darko underwent a successful surgery but she passed on during recovery.
Counsel denied that they did not contact any one when the incident happened, saying that one John Boadu whose name was on the surgery form was contacted.
He was of the view that the charges preferred against Dr Obengfo and Amponsah did not support the facts, pointing out that “the facts have been skewed”.
“My Client should be granted bail because he employs over 100 persons and his continuous incarceration is causing hardship for his employees.”
The 49-year-old presently unlicensed medical practitioner allegedly performed a surgery on Ms Offei Darko, whose office operates from the Jubilee House, the seat of the Presidency.
Amponsah who is alleged to have assumed the role of the deceased brother sent the body to Saint Gregory Morgue after the body had been embalmed.
Source: GNA