There was no show at the Financial Division of an Accra Fast Track High Court where a witness was expected to testify for the former boss of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), Dr. Alexander Kofi Tweneboah, who is standing trial for his alleged involvement in SIM box fraud.
This was because, the state prosecutor, Joyce Debrah (Mrs) was absent in court following their indefinite strike actions over their unfavorable working conditions.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, the trial judge, thus, adjourned the case to July 22.
At the last adjourned date, Monday June 29, 2015 the accused person told the Court during his cross-examination that the statement he wrote to the Police at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) when he was arrested was not the “truth.”
He said his statement to the police was based on the guidelines the investigator in the case gave him. Dr. Tweneboah made this known to the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe (Mrs.) when he was being cross-examined by the state prosecutor, Joyce Debrah (Mrs.).
In his evidence-in-chief earlier, he told the court that he was compelled by the police to admit guilt so that he would not be charged. He also told the court that the police had said his nephews who were also arrested in connection with the matter would not be charged.
But, the state prosecutor in trying to discredit the accused person’s testimony put to him that the police had already granted bail to his nephews prior to him being taken to the CID headquarters. Dr. Tweneboah disagreed, saying,” it weighed on me.”
Asked whether he was compelled to write his statement at the CID headquarters, he replied, “I wrote the statement myself with the summary from the investigator. I wrote it from the guidelines from the police investigator.”
Again, when asked by the prosecution if he wrote the truth, he said, “no my lord,” but also denied lying to the court.
Just after the state prosecutor signaled the end of her cross-examination of the accused, his lawyer who was late to court surfaced, but was given the chance to listen to the recorded tape by the trial judge.
Dr. Tweneboah has been charged with providing electronic communication service without license, possessing illegal device and knowingly obstructing and interfering with sending, transmission, delivery and receiving communication. He pleaded not guilty and is currently on a GH¢200,000.00 bail with two sureties.
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