The recent case at the High Court in Accra involving two house maids of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah and five others has been met with a delay in proceedings. The defense lawyers and State Prosecutors were late to Court when the case was called, resulting in an adjournment to March 8, 2024.
Despite the accused persons being present, both sets of lawyers – Defense and Prosecution – were absent but arrived after Justice Marie-Louise Simmons had adjourned the case. As a result, the accused persons, who had earlier been granted bail, remain in lawful custody as their conditions have not been met.
The next Court sitting is expected to involve a Case Management Conference, marking the accused persons' fourth appearance at the High Court. Patience Botwe, 18, and Sarah Agyei, 30, along with five others, face a total of 31 counts for their respective roles in the alleged offense.
The charges range from Conspiracy to steal, stealing, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering. State Prosecutors were granted one last opportunity to file their disclosures and witness statements before the recent Court session.
The accused persons were granted bail in a combined sum of GHc5,250,000 with two sureties each to be justified with landed properties. As part of their bail conditions, one of the sureties for each accused person must be a resident in the Greater Accra Region and gainfully employed.
The trial judge, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, also outlined additional requirements for the sureties and accused persons, including inspections and documentation. The accused persons are represented by lawyers Augustine Gyemfi, Yaw Dankwah, and Adams Abdul Basit.
New charges have been filed at the High Court, comprising 31 counts including conspiracy, stealing, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering. The accused individuals are alleged to have stolen various sums of money and properties since July 6 of the previous year.
The case continues to unfold with its complexities and legal intricacies. Stay tuned for further updates as the judicial process moves forward.
-source starrfm | curated by Aisha Yakubu | Ghana Crimes
