Charles Bissue
A court has granted the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for its first witness in the trial of former Secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, and two others accused of using public office for profit, to testify in-camera.
This was after the court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, agreed with the Office that the witness, who is an undercover journalist, faces a significant risk if his identity is made public.
The OSP had requested the court to allow the witness to testify behind closed doors away from the public due to the nature of his work.
The request, was however, opposed by defence lawyers who urged the court to allow the witness to testify in open court just as any other witness, as they want the public to know about what the witness had to say.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay, in her ruling yesterday, held that having carefully weighed the constitutional right to public hearing, the witness as an undercover operative, his ongoing works, and the violence against at least one investigative journalist, she was satisfied that the court has jurisdiction under article 19(14) to exclude the public and media where necessary for administration of justice and protection of the life of persons.
She said there exists reasonable operational risk of the witness if his identity and face are exposed, holding that hearing the witness’ testimony in-camera will not impair the fair trial right of the accused persons, who will get the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
She, therefore, ordered that evidence-in-chief, cross-examination and questions put to the witness by the court shall be in-camera and only accused persons, their lawyers, court staff and security officers will be allowed to be in the court room during the testimony of the witness.
She added that accredited journalists may apply for the proceedings of the court through the normal process subject to the removal of sensitive information such as residential address and others of the witness.
Meanwhile, the court has granted an application by Charles Bissue for the registry to release his expired passport for renewal.
The court has given him up to January 28, 2026 to renew the passport and return same to the registry as part of his bail conditions.
The case was adjourned to January 12, 2026, for the OSP to call its first witness.
Charles Bissue, Raphael Mensah, former Systems Manager of the GalamStop software and Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe, former Project Coordinator of the IMCIM are before the court for corruption and related offences contrary to the provisions of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended.
Mr. Bissue is facing six counts of corruption and abuse of public office, in breach of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended by Act 1034. He has also been charged with three counts of corruption by a public officer under section 239(1) and (3) of Act 29, as amended, for allegedly agreeing, directly or indirectly, to allow his conduct in public office to be influenced, contrary to the ethical standards and obligations of his position.
Mr. Mensah and Dr. Tagoe have each been charged with abetment of corruption and the use of public office for profit, in contravention of sections 20(1) and 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). It is alleged that they facilitated the receipt of bribes in furtherance of the corrupt scheme.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak