Judge denies receiving bribe in Takoradi Anglican Church case

Takoradi, July 27, GNA - Mr Justice David K. Ofosu-Quartey, a High Court Judge in Takoradi, has denied receiving bribe to convict four members of a faction in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle Anglican Church case.

The Court on July convicted the Reverend Father Jacob Augustine Welbourne, Former Dean of the Church; Mr Emmanuel Papa Assan; Augustus Quaye and Dan Assafuah of contempt and sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment.

He said soon after he gave the judgement he started receiving telephone calls from all over the country.

Justice Ofosu-Quartey made these remarks when Rev. Welbourne and the others filed a motion on notice citing Order 50 Rules Four and Five to seek the Court's suspension of the execution of the order of committal and to discharge them from prison as the Court might deem fit. He said some of the callers accused him of collecting money in order to jail the convicts while others said his judgement was written for him. "My judgement was not written for me, I worked with the CHRAJ for 10 to 12 years and I am not na=EFve or stupid and can write my own judgements", he said.

Justice Ofosu-Quartey said: "I have a conscience. I will never and would be the biggest mad man to go to my Bishop and ask for money. Some people I respect called to ask whether it was true.=94 He said those peddling the falsehood failed to specify the amount and who paid the money.

Justice Ofosu-Quartey later told the Court: "I am sorry for my outbursts but I have to let you know."

Turning to the substantive case Justice Ofosu-Quartey asked why the affidavits supporting the motion were thumb printed whereas they could sign.

Rev Welbourne and Assafuah told the Judge that the Prisons Authorities said they could only thumb print and not sign in accordance with the rules in prison.

They told Justice Quartey that they thumb printed in the presence of a Police Commissioner from the Regional Police Command and Sekondi Prison Officials and that Asher W. Ahlijah, a Commissioner of Oaths based at Sekondi, was also present in the prisons when they thumb printed. The Court adjourned to July 28.

The Takoradi High Court presided over by Justice Ofosu-Quartey on July 21 sentenced the Reverend Father Welbourne; Assan; Quaye and Assafuah to a total of 12 months' imprisonment for contempt of court. Additionally, they were fined a total of 34 million cedis or in default two years' imprisonment each with two sureties to be justified. The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kofi Abbey-Hart, who was absent. Rev. Welbourne was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour; fined 10 million cedis and to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for two years or in default pay a fine of 100 million cedis or another two years in jail. While Assan, Quaye and Assafuah were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour; fined eight million cedis and to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for two years worth 100 million cedis. Bishop John Otoo, Anglican Bishop of Sekondi, cited Rev. Welbourne for and the others for contempt. According to evidence before the Court, Bishop Otoo dismissed Rev Welbourne from the Anglican Church and the Sekondi Diocese and revoked his ministerial licence but the convict failed to vacate the Cathedral premises, refused to hand over and continually held mass there for some parishioners. Assan, Quaye and Assafuah have also cited Bishop Otoo; Lord Pearce, Joseph Abakah; Justice Kwesi Etrue Amua-Sekyi (rtd), Bishop Andrew Faakye Okoh (rtd); Bishop Mattias Badohu of Ho; Rev. Emmanuel Nii Laryea and Venerable Kingsley Addai for contempt at the same court. The said Bishop Otoo and his group breached a settlement arrangement agreed upon on June 6 2006 when they entered the Cathedral on Sunday on June 18, to interrupt an ongoing church service. 27 July 06