Kofi Adams
An Accra circuit court judge yesterday declined hearing of a case involving one Arnold Asante – a self-styled businessman – standing trial for fraud.
The accused has been dragged before the court for allegedly defrauding Kofi Adams, National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the sum of GH¢840,000.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Stephen Adjei, in the month of December 2016 in Accra, Arnold told Mr Adams that if the said money was given to him, he would pre-finance a tyre supply contract he had secured from Goldfields Mining Company Limited, Tarkwa.
The prosecution stated that the accused failed to pay back the said money to the NDC Youth Organizer.
Recusal
However, Mrs. Janet Harriet Akweley Quaye, who is hearing another case involving the same accused person, recused herself from the case.
The judge’s recusal followed an assertion by Dr. Maurice Ankrah, lawyer for the accused in the latest case, that the then prosecutor, Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka, had conference with her (Mrs. Akweley Quaye).
While vehemently denying ever meeting with the former prosecutor of the case, the judge stated that the claim had to be investigated.
“I’m going to wash my hands off this case; I have been told the prosecutor had conference with me so I have been compromised…
“I am going to write to the Chief Justice to investigate it, that’s my decision; I’m going to recuse myself from the case.” Mrs. Akweley Quaye averred.
Fresh Trouble
Mrs. Quaye further noted, “The judges are many, the circuit court judges are plenty, it’s not because of one human being that I will be accused of something I haven’t done…”
In the instant case, Arnold has been charged for defrauding the wife of a Kumasi high court judge the sum of GH¢62,000 under the pretext of buying an auctioning Range Rover vehicle for the complainant within one week.
The accused is facing an additional charge of issuing a false Barclays Bank cheque with face value of GH¢50,000 to the complainant when he knew there was inadequate funds in the said account.
Earlier, Dr. Ankrah, lawyer for the accused who was not in court, said the court ought to grant bail to his client.
He said his client was sick and needed a surgery to be performed on him outside the country, but the judge refused, indicating that the accused had been evasive.
Sitting continues on September 18, 2017.
Judge’s Wife
The complainant in the case is a businessman based in Sunyani. In the month of January, 2016 the complainant came to know Arnold through her husband and managed to convince her (complainant) per telephone conversation that he could secure her a state auctioning Range Rover at the cost of GH¢62,000 within one week.
The complainant became interested and on February 2, 2016, she traveled to Accra and paid the said amount to Arnold to deliver the vehicle in one week as promised, but he failed.
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson