Akosua Adjepong
The trial proceedings against celebrated Ghanaian musician, Akosua Adjepong, who has been fingered in an alleged fraud deal, has been adjourned to today because of what her lawyer described as “hanky-panky” acts by the prosecution.
She and her alleged accomplice, Frank Agyemang Badu, a building contractor, were expected to enter the dock to be cross-examined about their alleged involvement in a case in which they had been accused of defrauding one Jonas Asamoah an amount of GH¢160,000 and a Toyota RAV 4 valued at GH¢100,000.
Lawyer for the two, B.T. Agbeli, told the court, presided over by Mrs. Priscilla Dapaah Mireku, that the prosecution had failed to furnish the defence team with all the materials they intended to rely on for the trial as ordered by the court.
He said he approached the case prosecutor, ASP Agnes Boafo, for the necessary documents but she instead referred him (lawyer) to the investigator.
He said the investigator in turn directed him to consult the prosecutor for the materials as they were all in her possession.
Mr. Agbeli, who was not happy with the development, fumed, “Days of ambush prosecution of cases, especially criminal cases in the country, are over” and prayed the court to order the prosecution to release all the documents.
He mentioned the charge and fact sheets, receipt given to the complainant by the accused person, an indenture and documents provided by witnesses in support of their claims as well as statements made by witnesses as the documents required by the defence.
ASP Boafo, who was totally surprised by the defence lawyer’s claims, objected, stating that she handed over the charge and facts sheets as well as the caution statements of the accused persons as directed by the court.
She therefore marvelled at why the defence lawyer accused the prosecution of not complying with the court’s orders.
Asked by the court which documents the prosecution intended to rely on, ASP Boafo listed the charge and fact sheets, receipt given to the complainant by the accused person, an indenture and documents provided by witnesses in support of their claims and a text conversation between the complainant and Akosua Adjepong.
The judge then ordered her to submit them to the defence team and subsequently adjourned the case to today, December 5, 2017.
AkosuaA djepong together with her ‘brother’ Frank Agyemang Badu alias Killer Boss, are facing conspiracy to commit crime and fraudulent transaction of land charges.
They both pleaded not guilty and had been granted bail in the sum of GH¢160,000 with three sureties, one of who must be a civil or public servant earning not less than GH¢ 2,000.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak