Afia Schwarzenegger and Lawrence Abrokwa
The legal tussle between television host, Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa aka Afia Schwarzenegger and her ex-husband has come to an abrupt conclusion following a decision by the trial court to close the case.
The two are before an Accra Circuit Court after she accused her ex-husband, Lawrence Abrokwa, of recording and distributing her naked video.
The court presided over by Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku was forced to close the case after the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Maxwell Oppong was unable to present a new witness for the trial.
The prosecution has been unable to put before the court a witness to present their side of the story, although the case had been adjourned a couple of times because of that.
At the last sitting before yesterday, the presiding judge had warned the prosecution that she would be left with no choice than to close the prosecution’s case if they are unable to produce their next witness.
When the case was called yesterday, both Afia Schwarzenegger who is the complainant, and the case prosecutor, were nowhere to be found.
No excuse had been given to the court for the absence of the prosecution; Afia and their witness.
Defense lawyer, Anthony Namo, subsequently prayed the court to close the case so that he could file a submission of no case to explain why the accused person should not be called to open his defense.
The presiding judge, Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku recalled telling the prosecution that she would be compelled to close their case if they do not present their next witness at the next court sitting.
She therefore closed the prosecution’s case and gave the defense lawyer up to October 2, 2018 to file his submission of no case. The court will rule on the submission of no case on October 8, 2018.
Background
Lawrence Abrokwa, the ex-husband of Afia Schwarzenegger, is before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly recording and distributing her naked video.
He was facing five charges including two counts of domestic violence, threat to harm, assault and publication of obscene material.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
But the case took a different turn following a decision by the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Maxwell Oppong, to amend the charge sheet to include stealing, carrying offensive weapon and causing unlawful damage.
Per the new charges, Afia Schwarzenegger is accusing the former husband of breaking her bedside drawer and stealing an amount of $2,000 and £500
She is also accusing him of taking all the belongings of a man who Afia was allegedly having sexual intercourse with.
Although the charges had been amended, Lawrence Abrokwa is to be on his old bail terms of GH¢20,000 with three sureties.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak