The High Court in Accra has remanded Patience Botwe, one of the two former housemaids of former sanitation minister Cecila Abena Dapaah, along with five other people, into prison detention.This followed a request by state prosecutors headed by Senior State Attorney Akosua Agyepomaa Agyemang to have them sent to jail custody rather than the police, and the court granted their wish. All this time, after being granted bail in the amount of GHc5,250,000 with two sureties each to be supported by landed properties, the accused still haven't managed to meet their obligation.
In light of recent events, the responsibility for the care of the accused has shifted from the police to the prison administration.The accused can go home after their bail bonds are certified, even though defense counsel led by Nana Addo Asirifi opposed the request for the time being.The other housemaid, Sarah Agyei, is allegedly nursing a nine-month-old infant, but the court's injunction does not impact her."The accused who have been granted bail but are still on remand are to be remanded into prison custody to be brought by the prison officers," the Court said, adding that the "case adjourned to March 15.""I will make an exception for the second accused (Sarah Botwe), who is said to be breastfeeding a nine-month-old baby," Justice Marie-Louise Simmons remarked, allowing Botwe to remain in police cells. Simmons' court also housed several senior high school students.On Friday, March 8, the court was supposed to hold a case management conference.
However, several defense attorneys claim that they have not received the most recent processes filed by the prosecution, which were submitted on February 2.Reporting from the courtroom, EIB Network Legal Affairs Correspondent Murtala Inusah said that state prosecutors have also asked for a restraining order to prevent the accused from selling or otherwise disposing of assets that are in their possession.The defendants in this case are Job Pomary, Yahaya Sumaila, Benjamin Sowah, Christiana Achab, Malik Dauda, Botwe, and Agyei, all of whom are in their 30s and have pleaded not guilty to 31 counts that include charges such as money laundering, conspiracy to steal, theft, and dishonestly receiving.The former minister's residence was the target of a theft involving millions of Ghana cedis in stolen funds and assets, and the parties involved are now appearing before the court.Novel feesFollowing its withdrawal from the Circuit Court on the same day, the High Court received a fresh charge sheet on November 8 that had 31 counts—eight more than the 14 in the modified sheet.
Among the 31 additional counts were five for conspiracy, six for theft, nine for dishonestly receiving, and eleven for money laundering.The alleged theft of several quantities of money, including 300,000 euros and other goods, was perpetrated by Patience Botwe, an 18-year-old, together with seven others.The Court has been presented with them since July 6, 2023.Being patient The following individuals were originally charged with 14 counts of offenses before their charges were dropped: Botwe, an 18-year-old hairdresser; Sarah Agyei, a 30-year-old unemployed woman; Benjamin Sowah, a 29-year-old plumber; Malik Dauda, a 34-year-old unemployed man; Christiana Achab, a merchant; Job Pomary, a mechanic; and Yahaya Sumaila, an excavator operator.
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