Obengfo granted bail for no license case but still in custody for murder charge
The EMBATTLED plastic surgeon, Dr Dominic Obeng-Andoh, aka Obengfo, was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties by the Accra Circuit Court for practising medicine without licence.
The medical officer, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Advanced Bodysculpt Centre, also known as the Obengfo Hospital, was granted bail after he pleaded not guilty to practising medicine without licence and operating an unlicensed medical facility.
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The bail, however, does not give him the green light to go home as he is still in police custody for the alleged murder of a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan (NEIP), Ms Stacy Offei-Darko.
Ms Offei-Darko died while on admission at the Obengfo Hospital on May 21, 2018 after undergoing a surgery allegedly performed by Dr Obeng-Andoh.
On May 29, 2018, the Accra Central District Court remanded Dr Obeng-Andoh after he was arraigned on a charge of murder for the death of Ms Darko.
The court remanded him on the basis that it had no jurisdiction to grant bail in a murder case.
Lawyers for the medical officer have, therefore, applied for bail in the murder case at the High Court.
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Read also: Court orders hospital to produce Obengfo to stand trial
‘Sick’ Obengfo
Dr Obeng–Andoh, on two occasions, failed to appear before the circuit court to answer charges of practising without licence and operating an unlicensed medical facility. This was because he was receiving treatment at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge).
Last Tuesday, the court ordered the medical director of Ridge to produce the surgeon to stand trial following a medical report that he could appear before the court in the company of a physician.
In line with the order, Dr Obeng-Andoh appeared before the court yesterday with a doctor and other well-wishers, but had to be assisted to walk.
His movement and body language showed that he was very sick. As he was leaving the courtroom to a waiting car, he sat down on two occasions to catch a breath.
Bail application
Making a case for the bail, the lawyer for Dr Obeng-Andoh, Nana Kofi Bekoe, submitted that his client, when granted bail, would make himself available to stand trial.
According to counsel, his client had a fixed place of abode and was also not a flight risk.
“He also has competent people to stand sureties for him,” counsel submitted.
The court, presided over by Mrs Harriet Jane Akweley Quaye, adjourned the case to July 6, 2018.
Read also: Police CID investigate Director of Obengfo Hospital over death of Deputy NEIP CEO
No licence
According to the facts of the case, in July 2015, investigations by the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) revealed that Dr Obeng-Andoh had failed to renew his annual registration to practise since 2013.
The MDC, after further investigations, reported the matter to the police, and on December 20, 2016, the police went to the Obengfo Hospital to arrest Dr Obeng-Andoh.
“The police met him in the process of performing certain medical procedures on someone. Further investigations revealed that Dr Obeng-Andoh also failed to license his health facility as required by law,” the facts indicated.
Read also: Owner of Obengfo Hospital in trouble with the law: For failing to renew licence
Trial on hold
Dr Obeng-Andoh was charged with the offences and was expected to appear before the Accra Circuit Court on February 7, 2017, but he petitioned the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to review the investigations against him.
Based on the facts stated, the court process was temporarily suspended and the case docket was forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice.
The facts have it that the A-G gave its response on May 8, 2018, with a legal advice that all the charges levelled against Dr Obeng-Andoh be maintained and he should also be arraigned.
Writer’s email: [email protected]