Victor Selormey, former Deputy Finance Minister, on Tuesday told the Fast Track Court that on November 25, 1998, he signed a contract of 1,106,685 dollars for consultancy services on the Court Computerisation Project.
He said the actual amount paid for the services provided by the Leebda Corporation of the United States (US) was 1,297,500 dollars, because the contract allowed some variations for actual work done.
Selormey was being cross-examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after he has tendered a contract document, which was signed between him and Dr Frederick Boadu, President of Leebda.
Selormey is charged with six counts of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing financial loss to the state. He has pleaded not guilty and is on 1.5 billion cedis bail with two sureties to be justified.
Accused had earlier tendered in evidence the contract document and a CD-ROM, which according to him, was produced by Dr Boadu as part of the project.
The former Deputy Minister agreed with a suggestion by the DPP that, even though, the contract stated that payments would be made in three instalments, he caused the fee to be paid in two instalments.
Selormey said the CD-ROM was the one Dr Boadu demonstrated to two judges of the superior courts and which contained copies of Legislative Instruments (LIs), legal authorities and statutes.
Leading counsel for the accused, Mr Johnny Quashie-Idun applied to the court for his client to tender a laptop computer, which could be used to demonstrate how the CD-ROM operated.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Sam Baddoo overruled the application saying that the contract document mentioned only the CD-ROM and not laptop computer.
A defence witness, Mr Nicholas Charles Agbevor, an Administrator at the Judicial Service said sometime in 1996, Dr Boadu called on the late Chief Justice, Mr Justice Isaac Abban and sold an idea of introducing a computer system into the Service.
Witness said he was present during the discussions after which the Dr Boadu was asked to come out with a "concrete programme" based on what was discussed.
Mr Agbevor said Dr Boadu wrote back and the late Chief Justice asked him (witness) to reply that he could commence work.
Witness said he did not know whether the Judicial Service signed any contract with Dr Boadu.
Both sides rested their cases and the court adjourned proceedings to Monday, December three for both sides to submit their addresses.
