Friday, 12 May 2006
Jerry John Rawlings at the second hearing of the trial of former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and eight others yesterday, ex-President J. J. Rawlings caused a stir when he too stood up in an apparent show of solidarity for his wife when she stood up for her plea to be taken.
When Mr. Justice P. Baffoe-Bonnie, the presiding judge, asked him to sit down saying, “you cannot stand in my court,”
Flt.-Lt. Rawlings responded: “I have a back problem.”
The judge then said: “Please, walk out if you cannot sit down.”
The former President then replied: “Fair enough, I will stand right here.”
He then moved away from his original position to where some police officers and his personal guards were in the Fast Track High court room and remained standing until proceedings ended.
Nana Konadu is standing trial together with Emmanuel Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC); Thomas Benson Owusu, former DIC accountant; and Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister and DIC Chairman.
The rest are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Managing Director; Georgina Okaitey, Director/General Manager; George Mould, Director; and Larry Adjetey, Director/Secretary, all of Carriden Development Company Limited (CDCL).
They have been charged with 30 counts of conspiracy, causing financial loss to a public body, intentionally causing loss to a public property, conspiracy to obtain public property by false statement and obtaining public property by false statement.
The charges arose from the divestiture of the Nsawam Cannery to CDCL.
With the exception of Owusu, all the accused were in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail on their own recognizance and the case was adjourned to May 29.
The court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Owusu after Mr Joe Ghartey, the Attorney General-designate, indicated to the judge that he had been served with all the court papers.
Counsel for Nana Konadu, Ayittey and Carriden Development Company Limited, Tony Lithur, objected to some of the charges preferred against his clients saying, “they are inconsistent with the law.”
But Mr Ghartey replied saying, “There is nothing wrong with what has been done. The objection is totally misconceived,” and added that at the appropriate time, the prosecution will lead evidence to show that the charges preferred against the accused are right.
The judge overruled Mr Lithur’s objection saying, “it is the court’s view that the objection raised has been done too early.”
Mr. Ghartey told the packed court that the essential parts that were supposed to be fulfilled by both DIC and CDCL over the divestiture were not fulfilled.
The sale and purchase agreement which was supposed to have been signed between the interested parties before March 31, 1995, he added was not done and “as at 1999, attempts were being made to sign it.”
“As we stand here, they have never entered into any agreement but they have taken possession,” the Attorney General said.
He also said that the 10 per cent which was supposed to be paid under the agreement was withdrawn a few days after it had been deposited in the bank.
During the trial, the judge warned Ms Ayittey to refrain from passing comments that prejudiced the case. When Ms Ayittey’s plea was being taken, she had said, “not guilty. This is real injustice”.
Before retiring to his chambers, Mr. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie appealed to the media not to trivialize or sensationalise the trial. “You can seek clarification from me at any time.”
Hundreds of NDC supporters some clad in party colours, besieged the court premises There was an equally good number of police officers to maintain law and order.
When proceedings closed, the crowd chanting, singing and dancing, followed the former President and the accused persons to the main Supreme Court building where the accused had gone to execute their bail bond.
The police at a point had it tough controlling the crowd.
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