A-G Is Simply Exercising His Rights…We’re Unperturbed By Fresh Charges – Woyome’s Counsel

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A-G Is Simply Exercising His Rights…We’re Unperturbed By Fresh Charges – Woyome’s Counsel

One of the Counsel for Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the self-confessed NDC financier who is at the centre of the controversial GHc51.2m judgement debt saga, says he is not surprised that the Attorney General has slapped his client with fresh charges.

Mr Woyome was discharged by the Accra Fast Track High Court Tuesday, but was back in court some minutes later after he was re-arrested and leveled with two fresh charges of defrauding by false pretense and causing financial loss to the State.

Three other persons who were standing trial with Woyome were discharged together with him, have since left the court premises.

They are a Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, who was facing two counts of conspiracy and corruption of a public officer, the Director of Legal Services of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Paul Asimenu and Gifty Nerquaye-Tetteh, Nerquaye-Tetteh's wife.

Each of the three was facing one count of abetment of crime.

They were accused of wrongdoing in a controversial GhC 51 million judgment debt payment to Mr. Woyome.

Their arrest and subsequent prosecution followed an investigation by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office’s (EOCO) investigative report. The report indicted them including some past government officials under the Kufuor administration over a stadium rehabilitation and construction contract prior to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ghana.

Mr. Woyome was accused in the report to have doctored official documents and colluded with officials to milk the State of that whopping sum, but he has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

After months of trial, the state on Tuesday entered a nolle prosecqui on the basis of which the court discharged the four. But shortly afterwards, Mr Woyome was back in court facing fresh charges.

While some argue this latest move by the prosecution is meant to stampede the defense team, Ahmed Musah says they are undeterred by the A-G’s action since such occurrences are normal in a court of law.

Speaking in an interview on Citi News, Lawyer Ahmed Musah disclosed that what transpired in court on Tuesday did not surprise his client in any way since they were privy to information that new charges would be slapped against him after an invitation to the Police headquarters.

“We don’t find anything wrong with what happened. It is normal with law proceedings. I won’t say it is improper or abnormal, I will say that the Attorney General is exercising his rights. We have a defense and we will use it…,” he said.

Source: Rebecca Addo-Tetteh/Peacefmonline