Court orders investigators look for documents for Opuni

The Accra High Court hearing the case of the former COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni has ordered Police investigators to fish out certain documents and furnish them to the accused.

According to the court the investigators must look for documents for the Attorney-General (A-G) to file the document at the court registry on or before Friday July 13.

That was after lawyers for the accused complained to the court that the A-G had failed to make efforts to furnish them with certain documents that would facilitate their defence.

On June 7, 2018, the Supreme Court ordered all prosecutions in the country to furnish accused irrespective of their charges with prosecution documents to facilitate their defence.

Dr Opuni and Seidu Agongo both accused relied on Article 19(2) (e) and (g) and requested the AG to provide them all documents, including those it will not rely on in the course of the trial.

However at Monday’s hearing a Chief State Attorney, Mrs Evelyn Keelson, told the court that the A-G did not have the documents.

She also argued that the documents were also not relevant to the case and the demand for the documents was attempts by the defence counsel to delay the trial.

Mr Cudjoe, Counsel for Dr Opuni disagreed and argued that his client was anxious for the trial to commence.

The Court presided over by Mr Justice Clemence Honyenuga, a Court of Appeal Judge, sitting in as an additional high court Judge after hearing the parties said ordered the investigators to make available the documents to the accused.

At the last sitting Mr Cudjoe, told the court that the A-G had furnished his clients with certain documents but the defence still needed access to other ones.

The documents he said, included documents regarding all documents since 2018 as well as certain documents by some COCOBOD officials.

The court presided over by Mr Justice Clemence Honyenuga ordered the A-G to do everything within its power to get the accused the documents.

The accused are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretence, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

They pleaded not guilty and have been granted a GH¢300,000.00 each self-recognisance bail by the court.

The Court adjourned the case to Monday July 16 for continuation.