Former members of the NCA board of directors will open the defense | General news

Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, chairman of the board of directors of the National Communications Authority (NCA), and four other people, who are currently on trial for deliberately causing financial losses to the state, have were sentenced to open their defense by a high court in Accra.

This follows the dismissal of no applications by the accused after the closure of the lawsuit.

They argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a case beyond reasonable doubt against them and therefore requested the court to release them.

But the court, chaired by Judge Eric Kyei Baffour, dismissed their claims, saying they had a record to answer.

The prosecution, headed by Attorney General Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa, opposed the defendants' requests, urging the court to order them to open their defense.

The court, presided over by Judge Eric Kyei Baffour, stated in his ruling that there was a difference between a prima facie case and the burden on the prosecution to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to him, although the charge is prima facie established by the prosecution, it is only when it opens the defense to rebut the evidence presented by the prosecution that evidence can be established beyond of any reasonable doubt.

He stated that a court can not determine the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt by simply listening to the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Main decision

In his decision, the trial judge found that the prosecution was able to establish a prima facie case against all the accused and that it was up to them to refute the allegations.

Acting on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and deliberately causing a financial loss to the state, the court found that four of the defendants, Mr. Baffoe-Bonnie, Tetteh-Tevie Alhaji Osman and Mr. Oppong were to answer for the case.

The court found that the prosecution had been able to prosecute Baffoe-Bonnie, Tetteh-Tevie and Alhaji Osman, accused of conspiracy to steal and steal, while Mr. Oppong was supposed to open his defense for theft.

Messrs. Baffoe-Bonnie and Tetteh-Tevie must also open their defense for violation of the law on public procurement, while all defendants will open their defense under the heading of money laundering.

Of the 17 counts, Nana Ensaw will open her defense on two topics: theft robbery and money laundering.

Trial

Mr. Baffoe-Bonnie, along with other former board members, including William Mathew Tetteh Tevie, former Executive Director of the NCA; Nana Owusu Ensaw; Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, former National Security Coordinator, as well as private businessman George Derek Oppong, director of Infraloks Development Limited, have been charged with conspiracy and financial losses for the company. 39; State.

The five defendants also face 16 other charges including conspiracy to steal, steal, use the public service for profit, money laundering, among others.

Case of the prosecution

On April 18, 2019, the prosecution closed its proceedings before a High Court in Accra after summoning six witnesses.

Witnesses included Abena Asarfo Adjei, Director of Legal Affairs at the NCA; Dr. Isaac Yaw Ani, Deputy Director General for Management and Operations; Colonel Michael Kwadwo Poku, Director of Operations, National Security Secretariat; Duncan Opare, Deputy National Security Coordinator and Detective Chief Inspector Michael Nkrumah, case investigator.

In no case

Immediately after the prosecution closed its case, defense counsel informed the court that they would exercise their right, pursuant to section 173 of Bill 30, to make no application.

The defendants would open their defense on May 30, 2019 at the resumption of the hearing.