Two Saved From Being Sent Back To Custody In Woyome Saga

The timely intervention of a lawyer on Monday saved two persons standing trial in the Woyome saga from being sent back to custody for their absence from court. The court this morning issued a bench warrant to effect the immediate arrest of Samuel Neequaye-Tetteh a Chief State Attorney at the Attorney General�s Department, and his wife, Gifty Neequaye-Tetteh a businesswoman following their absence at the financial division of the Fast Track High Court. Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Chief State Attorney, prosecuting told the court that the Police was still investigating the matter because there were a lot of documents involved and prospective witnesses yet to be called. She therefore prayed the court to grant her two weeks or a month adjournment. However, after ending her submissions, Samuel and Gifty arrived with one of their counsels, Mr Josiah Jah to plead with the court to rescind the bench warrant. Mr Jah who apologized on behalf of his clients said their actions were not deliberate and gross disrespect to the court. The court presided over by Mr Justice John Ajet-Nasam rescinded the bench warrant and adjourned the matter to March 5. Four persons standing trial are Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman, Samuel Neequaye-Tetteh, a Chief State Attorney at the Attorney General�s Department, Paul Asimenu, Head of Legal Duties, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Gifty Neequaye-Tetteh, a businesswoman. Woyome, who has been charged with conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences and corrupting a public officer, has pleaded not guilty, is on a GHc20 million cedis bail with three sureties to be justified. Asimenu and Neequaye-Tetteh who are being held for corruption of public officer and abetment of crime, have also denied the charges and are on bail in the sum of GHc6,000 bail each with a justification each. In the case of Gifty, she denied the charge of abetment of crime and is on bail in the sum of GH�500,000 with a surety. They are all to report to the Police twice in a week. 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 Ms Lamptey 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, with GH�17, 094,493.53 paid in February 2010. 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 and Economic Planning concerning the payment and refused to defend the action in court. Ms Lamptey said it was found out that Woyome transferred GH�400,000 to Gifty�s account. She said Asimenu wrote opinions, quoted figures and sent information which created conditions for Woyome to be paid monies which were not due him. During investigations the four were picked up by the Police, the Chief State Attorney said.