Patience Botwe, the former househelp and the first accused person in the alleged stealing case at the residence of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, has been denied bail at the Accra Circuit Court.
This decision was made based on grounds of misconduct exhibited by the 18-year-old hairdresser during her previous appearance at the Family and Juvenile Court.
Initially, Patience Botwe had been granted bail at the Family and Juvenile Court, but her actions and non-compliance with the court’s bail conditions led to her being denied bail at the Circuit Court. Her lawyers on September 19, 2023 had argued that since she had been granted bail at the Juvenile Court, the same should apply at the Circuit Court.
However, the presiding judge, Her Honour Afia Owusua Appiah, requested the proceedings from the Juvenile Court for further evaluation.
Upon review of the Juvenile Court proceedings, it was confirmed that Patience Botwe flouted the court’s bail conditions which led to a bench warrant issued for her arrest. The court further noted that, even before the case was struck out at the Juvenile Court Patience Botwe failed to attend court.
In light of these actions, the Circuit Court declined to grant her bail. Her Honour Afia Owusua Appiah stated, “having flouted the juvenile court’s orders for bail and not attending court, this court (Circuit Court) is not inclined to grant her bail.”
Patience Botwe and six other individuals are currently standing before the Circuit Court in Accra for allegedly stealing money and valuable items worth millions of cedis from the Abelemkpe residence of Cecillia Dappah, the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour.
Additionally, the court has ordered the Prosecution, led by Akosua Agyaponmaa Agyemang, an Assistant State Attorney, to conclude investigations on the matter by the next court sitting to allow the case to progress.
The order follows a request by the Prosecution for an adjournment to study the docket provided by the investigators. Concerns were raised by the lawyers of the accused persons about the delays in the investigation process. They said the delays in the matter is a violation of the ccused persons rights.
The case has been adjourned to October 17, 2023, as the court awaits the conclusion of the investigations and further proceedings.
Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media
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