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NCA financial loss case: Mini trial adjourned to March 14

pA High court in Accra hearing the case on the National Communication Authority (NCA) four-million-dollar cyber security equipment purchase, on Tuesday adjourned a mini trial, to March 14.

It was to enable the court to determine the admissibility of statements of Eugene Baffoe Bonnie, former Board Chairman of the NCA, charged in connection with the case, to the police as evidence.

The mini trial was adjourned because the state was unable to provide its witnesses to testify.

Mrs Yvonne Atakorah Obuobisah, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), told the court presided by Mr. Justice Eric Kyei Baffour that due to the non-availability of the state’s witnesses, the court should adjourn the matter.

 The DPP said efforts were being made to present the witnesses in court on the next date. 

 Mr Thaddeus Sory, counsel for Baffoe Bonnie, had rejected the admissibility of the police caution and charged statements given by his client, indicating that his client and other accused benefitted financially from the purchase of the cyber security equipment.

Mr Sory held that Baffoe Bonnie gave the statements without the presence of a lawyer, and the police failed to advise him on his right to a lawyer of his choice.

The counsel said that Baffoe Bonnie was threatened and issued the statements under duress, besides they were not issued in the presence of an independent witness.

Responding, the DPP denied that Baffoe Bonnie was threatened when he gave his statements, and that accused had confirmed in his statements that he was advised on his right to a counsel of his choice.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Nkrumah, the investigator, was in the dock and about to tender the police caution statement and other statements of Baffoe Bonnie, when the objections were raised. Inspector Nkrumah was led in evidence by the DPP.

Baffoe Bonnie is standing trial with William Tevie, Director General of NCA, Nana Owusu Ensaw, NCA board member, Alhaji Salifu Mimina, former Deputy National Security Coordinator, and George Derrick Oppong, a Director of Infralock Development Limited.

The accused, who among others are being held for wilfully causing financial loss to the state in respect of the purchase of a cyber-security equipment worth four million dollars, denied the charges and were granted bail. –  GNA

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