NO WITNESS IN ABUGA PELE TRIAL

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday, June 16, 2014

The much-touted trial of the former National Coordinator of National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) and Philip Akpeena Assibit could not be heard on Friday because the prosecution failed to bring a witness to the court.

As a result, the trial judge, Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, had to adjourn proceedings until Thursday July 3, for the fourth prosecution witness (PW4) to testify.

It was the third time the trial of the former coordinator of the NYEP, now known as Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) was adjourned.

In the first instance on May 5, the machine used in recording the proceedings was faulty.

On two occasions, the prosecution’s next witness was not ready while the defence lawyers was said to be indisposed.

When the case was called yesterday, Nuella Seidu, who represented Abuga Pele, said they had concluded the cross-examination of Mohammed Pelpuo, head of the Business Development Unit at NYEP who is the PW3.

As a result, a prosecutor from the Attorney General’s Department, Comfort Tasiame, told the Financial Court that their next witness was not in court and requested for a July 14, adjournment.

The judge, however, made it clear that the court was not interested in the prosecution’s witness per month policy and asked them to get their witnesses ready for the case to progress.

She also said apart from not granting the long adjournment, the case had been partly heard and must be disposed of within a reasonable period.

Accused persons

Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Chiana-Paga, Abuga Pele and Philip Akpeena Assibit, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goodwill International Group (GIG) are standing trial for the various roles they played, which the Attorney General’s Department said caused huge financial loss to the state.

Until last year, Abuga Pele was the National Coordinator of National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), now the GYEEDA.

He is accused of wilfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢3,330,568.53 while Assibit is being tried for defrauding the state of an amount equivalent to $1,948,626.68.

The two have pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail.

Charges                                               

The NDC MP is facing six counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state under Section 179A (3) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, two counts of abetment under Sections 20(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and one count of intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD) 140.

Mr. Assibit, who is the first accused person on the other hand, is facing six counts of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal and Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) and five counts of dishonestly causing loss to public property contrary to Section 2(1) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD) 140.