Counsel to submit written submissions in GREL case

An Accra Fast Track Court on Friday ordered Mr David Lamptey a defence counsel in the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture case, to furnish it with a written submission of 'no case' against his client on Monday, November 3.

Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, Appeal Court Judge with an additional responsibility on the matter as a High Court Judge, announced this following a letter from counsel to the court at its sitting.

Mr Lamptey, counsel for Hanny Sherry Ayittey, treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, who began his oral submission last week, informed the court that he was indisposed, and could, therefore, not continue with his submissions and pleaded for some time.

Ayittey is standing trial jointly with three others for their alleged involvement in corruption during the privatisation of GREL.

The three are Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), Ralph Casely-Hayford, businessman and Sati Dorcas Ocran, housewife.

The accused persons allegedly used their positions to influence the DIC board to enable a French company Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea (SIPH) to win the bid for GREL.

They have all pleaded not guilty and each of them is on a self-recognisance bail.

Agbodo, Casely-Hayford and Ocran are being represented by Mr J E Senoo, Rodney Heward-Mills and Tony Lithur respectively.