Defence lawyers in the ongoing trial of the former Board Chairman of the National Communication Authority (NCA) and four others, have accused the State’s second prosecution witness, Isaac Yaw Ani, former Director of Finance at the National Communications Authority and Current Deputy Director General responsible for Management and Operations, of peddling lies and presenting half-truths during his evidence in chief.
Lead lawyer for the first accused person, Thaddeus Sory during cross examination of the witness in court Thursday sought to find out from the witness why he did not fully disclose the full scope of services that his sole proprietorship company, Mckush Consultancy Services Limited offers but limited same to educational services.
The witness, in his answer said, he limited the said scope because he is yet to begin the other services captured in the regulations on his company as presented to the Court by the defence lawyers.
On the relationship between his company and Infraloks Development Limited (IDL), the witness earlier indicated he did not know about the said company and had never had any dealings with them.
However, the defence lawyers presented a document to the Court that showed Mr. Ani exchanged correspondence with the company that he had claimed not to know existed. On this basis, lawyer Thaddeus Sory suggested to the witness that he was not credible in the case before the Court.
The witness, Mr Ani, rejected the claim and insisted that he has been very candid and truthful to the Court.
Mr. Sory in the course of the cross examination informed the Court that the defence team requested for a couple of documents that have been made available to them but would require some time to study same to arm themselves before they can continue with the cross examination. To that end, they requested the Court to adjourn sitting to allow them to interrogate the documents.
Justice Eric Kyei Baffour’s court in a short ruling agreed with the request of the defence lawyers and adjourned sitting to the 23rd of October, 2018, by which time the defence lawyers would have been able to give consideration to the documents that they have in their possession.
Background
According to the facts of the case as presented by the Attorney General in the case of the Republic vrs Eugene Baffoe Bonnie and four others, the first accused, Baffoe-Bonnie; 2nd accused, Tettey Tevie; 3rd accused Ensaw and 4th accused person Osman, were allegedly aided by the 5th accused person, Oppong, to engage in the criminal act.
It said the previous administration had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply a listening equipment at a cost of $6 million to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.
A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, charged $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million. The facts indicate that the National Security apparatus did not have the money to fund the transaction and for that reason the NCA, which had supervisory jurisdiction over the use of such equipment, was asked to fund the project.
The fact sheets also said $4 million was withdrawn from the NCA’s account, while $1 million out of the withdrawn amount was deposited into the account of the Israeli company.
The A-G explained that the remaining $3million was lodged in the account of Oppong, who acted as a representative of the local agents, Infraloks Development Ltd.
All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty to various counts of causing financial loss of $4 million to the state. The High Court has also granted each accused person a $1-million bail, with three sureties, and directed them to surrender their passports to the Registrar of the Court.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Wilberforce Asare
