An Accra Commercial High Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour has today Tuesday, May 12, 2020 convicted three (3) out of the five (5) accused persons who has been standing trial in the case of “The Republic versus Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and four others.”
The former Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA) William Tetteh Tevie, former Board Chairman of the NCA Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and one other person have all been slapped with a total of 16 years jail time.
Alhaji Salifu Osman, a former National Security representative coordinator is the other accused person found guilty by the court and asked to serve 5 years in prison.
They were found guilty of causing financial loss to the state to the tune of $4 million.
One other accused person, a businessman was however acquitted and discharged.
The Attorney General has been ordered to seize assets belonging to the convicted persons estimated to be worth $3 million.
Prosecution led by the state from January 16, 2018, called six witnesses to make a case against the accused persons namely, Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, William Tetteh Tevie, former Director-General of the NCA; Nana Owusu Ensaw, a former board member; Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator and George Derrick Oppong.
The accused led by their respective counsels opened their defence and did not call any defence witnesses.
The accused earlier filed a submission of no case but the court held that they had a case to answer and directed that they opened their defence.
Nana Owusu Ensaw, however, filed an appeal and got a ruling in his favour leading to his discharge.
Among the charges were stealing, using public office for personal gains, and willfully causing financial loss to the state in respect of the purchase of a Pegasus machine worth $4 million, to among other things assist in the fight against terrorism.
They all denied the various offences and have since been on bail.
Justice Baffour noted in his judgement that prosecution had proved that the three accused persons conspired and caused financial loss to the state.
He said evidence showed that the transaction did not have the approval of the NCA’s board, and a loss was occasioned to the state.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com
