The High Court in Accra has ordered the transfer of Patience Botwe, a former house-help of Madam Cecilia Dapaah, former Minister for Sanitation and five others from Police to prison custody.
The presiding Judge, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons said all the accused persons should be remanded into prison custody with the exception of Sarah Agyei, the second accused who is a lactating mother. The accused persons, numbering seven are facing trial for allegedly stealing from the ex-minister and her husband.
The Court gave the order following a prayer by the Prosecution, which argued that, although they were not opposed to the bail application by lawyers of the accused persons, the accused persons are still in Police Custody as they have been unable to execute their bails.
The Prosecution led by a Senior State Attorney, Akosua Agyaponmaa Agyemang explained that, their continuous detention in Police custody, has become burdensome to them. The accused persons are currently before the High court for their alleged involvement in the stealing of millions of cedis and other valuables from the residence of the former Minister.
They were each granted bail in the sum of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand cedis (GHC 750,000) with two sureties in November but have since not met their bail conditions. Also, the Prosecution has also filed a motion seeking an Order of restriction on the disposal of some properties which is said to be with the accused persons. Justice Marie-Louise Simmons has adjourned the case for a case management conference on March 15, 2024.
