The legal rumpus over the property of Ibrahim Sima, model and former boss of Exopa Modeling Agency, between his lawyers and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) at an Accra Fast Track High Court, Economic and Financial Division, yesterday took a long break.
This was after the judge, Justice Bright Mensah who ordered for a copy of the record of proceedings of the trial of Sima to enable him to give a verdict on the matter, was informed by Dr. Philip Anderson that he went to the chief registrar to request for a copy of the record of proceedings.
The case has been adjourned to October 21, 2011 for the chief registrar to make the copies available to the judge. Naa Adoley Ashong held brief for Dr. Emmanuel Ayine, Sima’s lawyer.
The EOCO, after the incarceration of Sima in connection with narcotic related offence, filed an application in an attempt to confiscate his property. Sima is currently doing time at the Nsawam Prisons after he was recently sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for attempting to export cocaine into Germany.
The EOCO, with the support of the Narcotics Control Board, intends to sell the confiscated property of Sima, a former top model and fashion designer, to deter persons who support drug convicts while they are serving their prison terms.
Items to be seized include the Exopa Modeling School located at the Trade Fair area at La, vehicles, foreign and local bank accounts, pistols and shot guns among others. This action is in accordance with the Economic and Organised Crime Act 2010 (Act 804) which was recently passed.
Counsel for Sima has filed an affidavit in opposition to the motion which is expected to be argued before the final decision of the judge. Counsel for Sima, Dr. Emmanuel Awini, believes that the EOCO, which claims the property of his client is tainted, should be able to show why it should be confiscated because the assets are in no way tainted.
An Accra High Court Judge, Justice Charles Quist, found Sima guilty of attempting to carry 4943.679 grammes of cocaine in four tubers of yam to Germany.
