The police prosecution, led by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, has been ordered by an Accra Circuit Court to present two former domestic workers and three others next week Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
The order follows the inability of the prosecution to present Patience Botwe, Sarah Agyei, Benjamin Sowah, Kweku Botwe, and Malik Dauda before the court yesterday.
However, DSP Nyamekye explained that the investigators in charge of bringing the accused persons to court had been detailed to the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, to conduct further investigations.
Per the prosecution’s submission before the court, the investigators had made significant strides with respect to the case, by arresting two more suspects.
Although the court was not given details of the current arrest and the role the persons played in the alleged US$1 million and other items theft case, he said seven people would be standing trial.
He also informed the court that the Attorney-General’s (A-G) Office had indicated to the police that it would be taking over the prosecution of the case.
Regardless of that, Mrs. Appiah, the presiding Judge, maintained that the accused persons were to be brought before her on Tuesday.
She also declined a bail application filed by counsel for Patience Botwe and her father, Kweku Botwe.
So far, it is Benjamin Sowah and Malik Dauda, all alleged lovers of Patience, who were yet to have legal representation.
Counsel for Sarah Agyei said it is disrespect on the part of the A-G’s Office to instruct the police prosecutor to inform the court that it was taking over the case.
He told the court that while the prosecution continued to drag its feet in the matter, it was human dignity that was at stake, as most of the accused persons were on remand.
Meanwhile, Sarah Agyei, who has been granted bail, continues to remain in police custody, due to challenges being posted by the police.
In an interview the counsel explained that the A-G’s Office could have gone to the court to deliver that message, and not to instruct the police prosecutor to speak on its behalf.
To him, the A-G’s claim of taking over the matter was nothing but a calculated gimmick to deny the accused persons the justice that they deserved.
The counsel also added that the police was barring his effort to have Sarah Agyei’s GH¢1 million bail executed was wrong.
According to him, instead of the Registrar interpreting the orders of the court, the Special Intelligence Unit of the Ghana Police had taken that responsibility upon its self.
Meanwhile, he said that per the practice, interpreting court order was the sole duty of the Registrar, and the only role of the police was to verify the abode of the sureties.
He was positive his client was innocent and it would be proven.
Background
The facts are that Patience, also known as Maabena, as well as Sarah, were domestic workers of the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and his wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
Somewhere in June, this year, the complainants lodged a complaint with the police after detecting the theft of cash and other personal belongings.
Preceding the report, Patience was caught by Mr. Kuffour in the room he shares with his wife.
This happened after Mr. Kuffour had returned from town only to find out that their bedroom was open and an unusual noise was coming from inside.
Mr. Kuffour entered the room and found A1 hiding behind the door.
It was said that Patience accessed the couple’s room with a duplicate key.
Missing cash, US$1 million, €300,000 and GH¢35,000, and other personal effects, jewellery valued at US$95,000, six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000, perfumes worth US$1,400, were detected missing by the complainant’s after the incident.
Patience escaped to Tamale and while there rented a 3-bedroom apartment at the cost of GH¢105,600, as well as a store at the cost of GH¢120,000.
The police arrested her upon intelligence and a spot search conducted in the apartment she was sharing with her boyfriend, Benjamin, revealed monies in currencies of US$40,000 and GH¢72,619.70.
Patience allegedly bought a 3-bedroom house at a cost of US$70,000 at Amrahia and furnished it with the following brand new items – a double-decker refrigerator, water dispenser, a television set, washing machine, and a chest cooler among others.
She also bought a Hyundai Elantra at the cost of GH¢80,000 for Benjamin, who also sold it to purchase a Honda Civic.
Patience also gave her father GH¢50,000, and GH¢100,000 to Malik (her ex-boyfriend).
The court heard that Patience implicated Sarah during interrogation, that she was her accomplice.
That when they were working together in the complainants’ house, Patience used to keep watch at the main gate to enable Sarah to enter the couple’s room to steal, after which they shared the spoils.
Sarah was arrested at Budumburam, and during investigation, it came to light that she used her portion of the stolen money to build a 3-bedroom house at where she was arrested.
As a result, the accused were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, stealing and dishonestly receiving.
They have all pleaded not guilty and with the exception of Sarah, the rest were remanded into police custody.
