Former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forso, has pleaded not guilty to charges, including “willfully causing financial loss to the Republic.”
Dr Forson also pleaded not guilty to the charge of “intentionally misapplying public property”.
The two others who were arraigned together with him, Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health and Richard Jakpa, local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited have also pleaded not guilty.
The Attorney General (AG) Godfred Yeboah Dame who was in court together with his two deputies – Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Diana Asonaba Dapaah and two State Attorneys on Tuesday, did not opposed to the grant of bail, except to urge the court to admit Dr. Forson to a self recognisance bail because he is a public officer while the two others who are businessman men admitted to bail sums that will compel them to stand trial.
The court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe Botwe after listening to the parties admitted the accused persons to bail.
For Dr. Forson (A1), he was admitted to a GHc3 million self-recognisance bail.
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The second accused person was admitted to bail in the sum of GHc1m with three sureties and one who is a public servant not below the rank of a director.
The third accused person was also granted bail in the sum of GHc5M with three sureties one of the sureties the court said should be justified with documents of landed property.
EIB Network Court Correspondent Murtala Inusah reports that the accused persons have been ordered to deposit their passports to the registrar of the court by 2pm tomorrow.
The Prosecution has been directed to file and serve accused persons and their lawyers with disclosures.
The case has been adjourned to February 15, 2022.
Charges
On December 23, last year, the state through the Director of Public Prosecution Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa filed the charges against the three persons.
The three have been charged with a total of five counts namely ‘willfully causing financial loss to the Republic contrary to section 179A (3) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29, Abetment of crime namely, ‘Willfully causing financial loss to the Republic contrary to section 20(1) and 179 A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29),’ ‘Contravention of the Public Procumbent Act, 2003, contrary to section 92 (2) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663),’ and ‘Intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1 (2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 140)’.