Machine fails to record Obinim investigator

The investigator testifying at the trial of Bishop Daniel Obinim, founder of Godsway International Ministry, and his two associate pastors, who allegedly vandalised the property of Hot FM, an Accra-based radio station, will have to be cross-examined again.

This was after the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Abdulai Iddrisu detected that the recording machines failed to record the cross-examination by Samuel Atta-Akyea, counsel for Obinim, Kingsley Baah and Kofi Kwetey at the last hearing.

The court consequently had the case adjourned to December 18, 2014 for Inspector Bismark Adu to be cross-examined.

The investigator had denied claims that the crowbar allegedly used by the bishop was his invention.

During cross-examination by Atta-Akyea, Adu-Gyamfi stated that one Frank Boateng, a staff gave the tool to the counter officer at Adabraka Police Station.

The witness said he did not talk to the supposed security officer at the radio station on that day and added that the security officer ran to his hometown because he was scared.

When defence counsel asked when the security man disclosed that information to him, the witness said Boateng gave him the information and that he did not personally meet the security officer.

He denied claims that he did not want to bring the security man to court, and added that there was no close circuit television (CCTV) at the studios.

The witness, in his examination-in-chief, tendered the tape on which Obinim could be heard on the tape saying, “Aden nti na mo sei nipa din saa? to wit “why are you tarnishing people’s images?”

The crowbar, said to have been used by Obinim has already been tendered in court.

The investigator explained that the said crowbar was not found at the scene of the crime but was later handed over to him by the counter officer at the Adabraka Police Station where the case was initially reported.

Inspector Adu-Gyamfi also tendered pictures of the smashed glasses believed to have been broken by the three suspects, who allegedly stormed the studios where the programme, ‘Nya Asem Hwe’ was being aired.

The witness told the court that he took pictures of the said crime scene.

The accused persons reportedly vandalised property including transmitters and amplifiers, estimated to cost Ghc130,580.