Patience Botwe, a former house-help of Madam Cecilia Dapaah, had her bail application denied by the Circuit Court in Accra.
After records emerged from the Juvenile Court indicating that she had previously been arraigned, and subsequently jumped bail due to misconduct, she was arrested.
On September 19, Juvenile Court ‘C’ was ordered by Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah to provide records of proceedings on Botwe.
This was after her lawyers led by Nana Addo Asrifi per his bail application argued that, at the Juvenile Court, his client was admitted to bail.
The court upon hearing that argument, made an order for the Juvenile Court to furnish the Circuit Court with the records of proceedings.
In court on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the said records of Proceeding of Juvenile Court ‘C’ were made available to the Circuit Court.
It however emerged that Patience Botwe “flouted the Juvenile Court bail conditions and was not attending Court.
The records of proceedings from the Juvenile Court also indicated that, even though a bench warrant was issued for her arrest, it was not executed until the case was struck out.
The Court said Patience Botwe on the date the case was struck out was also absent from the Court.
“Having flouted the juvenile court’s orders for bail, and not attending court, this court (Circuit Court) is not inclined to grant her bail.
The sitting judge, Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah said the bail application of Patience Botwe is refused.
Orders
The Court has subsequently ordered the prosecution to conclude their investigations by the next adjourned date for the plea of the accused persons to be taken.
This was after the Prosecution led by Akosua Agyaponmaa Agyemang, an Assistant State Attorney had prayed for an adjournment to study the voluminous docket submitted to them by investigators.
However, the lawyers of the accused persons vehemently opposed the request for long adjournment.
The Court subsequently adjourned the case to October 17, 2023 for the bail application for the Benjamin Sowah to be heard and the plea of the accused persons taken.
Seven persons – Patience Botwe, 18, hairdresser, Sarah Agyei, 30, unemployed, Benjamin Sowah, 29, plumber, Malik Dauda,34, unemployed, Christiana Achab, a trader, Job Pomary, a mechanic, and Yahaya Sumaila, Excavator operator, have been slapped with 14 counts.
Their respective pleas have not been taken as Prosecutors say investigations are winding up.
Since the amended charge sheet was moved on August 8, 2023, Sarah Agyei, Christiana Achab, Job Pomary and Yahaya Sumaila have all been granted bail.
But, they are still in lawful custody as they are yet to meet their bail conditions.
They are on 14 provisional counts of charges comprising a count of conspiracy, five counts of conspiracy and eight counts of dishonestly receiving.
Source: Starrfmonline
