An Accra High Court has expressed frustration with counsel for the Chief Executive of defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien’s attitude towards his ongoing trial.
On Thursday, the court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor cautioned that the banker's lawyer’s slow approach could leave it no option but to revoke his bail.
This came after the legal team failed to file their documents to ensure the smooth running of the trial.
The lawyer for the accused, Baffuor Gyau Bonsu Ashia, told the court that they only got the requested documents from the defunct bank's Receiver on January 12, giving them little time to comply with the order.
But the judge would have none of that.
Justice Kyei Baffuor reminded Ato Essien that his conditions for the granting of bail include the ability of the accused to cooperate with the court.
The judge further wondered why Mr Essien's lawyer did not use a subpoena to obtain the documents if they were indeed encountering any difficulty.
This means Mr Essien could be incarcerated for the rest of the duration of ¢620 million case if this continues.
Ato Essien and two others have been accused of embezzling liquidity support of ¢620 million bailout given by the Bank of Ghana to Capital Bank to service its maturing debt.
The Capital Bank CEO, his former Managing Director Fitzgerald Odonkor and former Director of Mr Essien's MC Management Services are currently facing 23 counts of money laundering, conspiracy to steal and stealing.
The prosecution says the suspects opened bank accounts with the Capital Bank through which the BoG's money was transferred.
They are also accused of carrying jute bags of money to Ato Essien as payment for 'business promotion'.
Latest Stories
-
USAID announces $103 million commitment to protect oceans at the 2024 Athens Conference
23 mins -
On-field results have not reflected investment in Hearts of Oak – Vincent Sowah-Odotei
35 mins -
We should be able to evacuate all crude oil from broken-down vessel by close of day – NPA
36 mins -
Ghana’s external debt rework: Deal or no deal?
38 mins -
Government issues RFP for Saglemi Housing units
42 mins -
Interfaith leaders promote dialogue in pursuit of peace and unity – Chief Doli-Wura
43 mins -
U.S. goverment invests in public servants working in Ghana’s public safety sector
1 hour -
Sam Jonah deems the absence of public purse accountability ‘pathetic’
1 hour -
Ghana is completely under-lawyered – Prof. Atuguba
1 hour -
Split vessel: NPA allays fears over discharging of crude oil content
1 hour -
Stonebwoy performs ‘Activate’ with Davido at his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden
1 hour -
Saint Kitts and Nevis reiterates constant position in favour of Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara, territorial integrity
2 hours -
Ghanaian lawyers have strayed from Nkrumah’s vision for law in Ghana – Prof Atuguba
2 hours -
Accra set to hand over UNESCO World Book Capital title to Strasbourg
2 hours -
Rihanna: ‘I refused to buy maternity clothes’
2 hours