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| Tsatsu Goes To Supreme Court On July 24 |
7/19/2007 |
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The Supreme Court would on Tuesday, July 24, hear an application filed by Tsatsu Tsikata, a former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) challenging an Appeals Court''s ruling that the lower court could not order the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to be served to appear before it.
The accused had earlier petitioned the Fast Track High Court to allow him to call the IFC, his vital witness in his trial, to tender certain documents in evidence in his favour, but this was dismissed on the grounds that it lacked merit.The court also overruled the submission on the grounds that the IFC was covered by immunity and that it could not sue and be sued. The Court of Appeal in dismissing Tsatsu''s appeal stated further that the motion to join the IFC to the appeal challenging the lower court''s decision not to call the IFC to testify was not grounded on any rule. He is accused in the substantive case before the Fast Track High Court (FTC) of wilfully causing financial loss of 2.3 billion cedis to the State.
The offence, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), is contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Decree 1977 (SMCD140). Tsatsu has denied the charges and has been admitted to a 700 million-cedi self-recognizance bail. In a related development, the Fast Track High Court on Tuesday adjourned to Wednesday, October 31, the substantive case in which Tsatsu is standing trial for causing financial loss to the State. Mrs. Justice Henrietta Abban, an Appeals Court Judge, sitting on the case as a High Court Judge, is expected to pronounce judgement on that day. The adjournment was necessitated by the outcome of the appeal before the Supreme Court.
The prosecution led by Mrs Aikins, had told the court that Tsatsu had caused financial loss to the state through a loan he, on behalf of the GNPC, guaranteed for Valley Farms. Valley Farms contracted the loan from Caisse Franeaise de Development, now known as Agence Franeaise de Development, in 1991, but defaulted in the payment, compelling GNPC, which acted as the guarantor, to pay it in 1996.
Professor E.V.O. Dankwa and Major Rowland S. Agbenato (rtd) are appearing for Tsatsu.
GNA
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