|
Justice Abban to rule on
disqualification in Tsikata's case
Accra, July 23, Ghanadot/GNA - Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban
would on July 30 give a ruling whether to disqualify herself
from sitting on a bail application filed by Tsatsu Tsikata,
Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National
Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), whom she jailed for five years
on June 18.
This came up when Tsikata, who represented himself, notified
the Court that he had raised the issue of bias against the
Trial Judge.
Tsikata was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for
wilfully causing financial loss to the State and misapplying
public property.
Tsikata also alleged that on June 19, 2008 one Kwame Boafo,
a young man who had gone to the court to see a friend,
overheard Mrs Abban discussing his trial with a Registrar at
the Court.
He said in the conservation Mrs Justice Abban intimated that
she had jailed the accused and that he could take her
wherever he wanted. He said Mrs Abban, who was speaking Twi,
said; "me jail no, me jail no".
Mr Edward Agyemang Doudu, Principal State Attorney, incensed
by Tsikata's allegation, objected to his claims and stated
that the same issue of bias against the Trial Judge was
raised before Mr Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta for which he
stayed proceedings.
He argued that if Tsikata wanted to move a new motion, he
must do it himself; elect somebody do it for him or the case
be adjourned sine die.
Tsikata in response further argued that he could not move
the motion when the Trial Judge, who is supposed to hear his
bail application, was disqualified from going ahead with it.
"I cannot move that motion when your Lordship is
disqualified from sitting on my bail application."
Tsikata was found guilty on three counts of causing
financial loss to the State and one count of misapplying
public property and jailed five years' on each count. The
sentences will run concurrently.
Tsikata was charged with three counts of wilfully causing
financial loss of GH¢230,000 (2.3 billion cedis) to the
State through a loan he, on behalf of GNPC, guaranteed for
Valley Farms, a private company, and another count of
misapplying public property.
He is said to have intentionally misapplied GH¢2,000 (20
million cedis) to acquire shares in Valley Farms.
Valley Farm contracted the loan from Caisse Centrale, now
Agence Française de Développement (ADF), but defaulted in
the payment, compelling GNPC as the guarantors, to pay the
loan in 1996.
GNA
|
