WOII Esther Saan, aka Mama Gee
An Accra High Court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of WOII Esther Saan, aka Mama Gee, the only female among ten persons standing trial for allegedly planning to overthrow the democratically elected government.
This was after she failed to appear before the court where she and the others are standing trial for high treason and abetment of high treason charges.
Her lawyer, Lamtin Apanga, could not tell the court the whereabouts of his client except to say that she called him to inform him that she was unwell and on admission at an unnamed hospital.
When the court asked for a documentation to prove the validity of her claim, the lawyer was unable to provide any.
The three-member panel of the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe and assisted by Justices Hafisata Amaleboba and Stephen Oppong not convinced with counsel’s explanation, subsequently issued a warrant for the arrest of WOII Esther Saan after it held that the accused person’s absence was without a justifiable cause.
The court directed that if she is arrested on a day the court is not sitting, the registrar of the court should be notified about the development.
Subpoenaed Doctor
Meanwhile, Mr. Joel Tettey Padi, a physician assistant at the Ogbojo Polyclinic in Accra who signed an excuse duty for Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, aka BB, one of the accused persons, has appeared before the court following a subpoena.
The medical assistant presented evidence to the court to show that the accused person is indeed unwell and needed some days to recuperate.
The proof included the patient’s medical folder, detailing the diagnosis and treatment that he received at the medical facility.
According to Mr. Padi, the accused person reported sick to the clinic on Monday, November 8, complaining of dizziness, nausea and imbalance.
He said Mr. Debrah, who visited the hospital under the name Bright Alan Yeboah, was diagnosed with vertigo and was attended to and was given two days off to rest.
The court after listening to the medical practitioner excused the accused from yesterday’s sitting but directed that he should be available for the next hearing on Monday, November 15.
Main Trial
The ten made up of civilians, a military officer, a senior police officer and some soldiers are before the court on charges of high treason and abetment of high treason for allegedly plotting to overthrow a democratically elected government.
They are Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, proprietor of the Citadel Hospital at Alajo in Accra who is suspected to be the mastermind of the plot; Donya Kafui aka Ezor, a local weapon manufacturer; Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu aka Bright Alan Yeboah or BB, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Lance Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, Lance Corporal Seidu Abubakar and WO II Esther Saan Dekuwine aka Mama Gee.
The rest are Johannes Zikpi, a civilian employee with the Ghana Armed Forces, ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo of the Ghana Police Service and Col. Samuel Kojo Gameli of the Ghana Armed Forces.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak