Woyome’s bail review application adjourned to Thursday
An application by businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome, who is at the centre of the paymennt of the controversial GH¢51.28 million judgment debt, to review the terms of his bail has been adjourned to Thursday by the Fast Track High Court in Accra.
The adjournment is to enable the prosecution to respond to submission of lawyers of Woyome.
According to Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Chief State Attorney, the prosecution was not served early for it to respond.
The Financial Divisional of Fast Track High Court on Monday granted Woyome GH¢54 million bail with two sureties, one 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 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.
The matter was adjourned to February 20.
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