Bawku West Assemblyman fined GHC400,000

Patrick Ayaba, the Assembly member for Teshei, in the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region, has been sentenced to pay three hundred penalty points as fine and also refund GHC400,000.00 to the complainant by the Tamale Circuit Court, presided by William Twumasi Appiah.

The complainant reported the assembly member to the police at Bole on 11th December, 2016 for stealing his sand worth GHC400,000.00 located at a galamsey site at Wasepei in the Bole District.

The case was therefore transferred from the Bole District Court to the Tamale Circuit Court.

Daily Guide gathered that the matter was referred to the Attorney General’s Department which advised that the assembly member be charged with stealing and arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court.

The case was called at the Circuit Court on 8th March, 2016 and the accused was granted bail in the sum of GHC300,000.00 with one surety.

Counsel of the accused Lawyer John Ndabugri represented him throughout the court proceedings until 7th September, 2016 when judgment was given against him based on the fact that he failed to open his defence.

The prosecutor ASP Seidu Wemah told Daily Guide that the lawyer asked him not to open his defence because the court rejected his submission for no case.

According to him, they were satisfied with the verdict since justice had been served the complainant.

ASP Seidu Wemah stated that the assembly member was planning to file an appeal, adding that he has every right to do so since the laws of the land permit that action.