Leading counsel for Victor Selormey, former Deputy Finance Minister, who is standing trial for financial malpractice, on Monday told the Fast Track Court that six charges brought against his client were defective.
Mr. Johnny Quashie-Idun submitted that evidence given by prosecution witnesses did not support particulars of the offences Selormey was alleged to have committed.
Counsel, therefore, urged the court to acquit and discharge him.
Mr. Quashie-Idun was addressing the court in a case in which Selormey is charged with two counts each of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretences and causing financial loss of 1.297 million dollars to the state.
Selormey has pleaded not guilty and is on a 1.5 billion cedis bail with two sureties to be justified.
Counsel said the prosecution had failed to lead evidence that the accused conspired with someone to defraud and cause financial loss.
He said the defence gave evidence that Selormey with the approval of his sector Minister signed a contract for payment of consultancy services for Court Computerisation Project for the Judicial Service.
Mr. Quashie-Idun contended that as a result of the contract, which was signed between his client and Dr Frederick Owusu Boadu of Leebda Corporation, which provided the services, a CD-ROM was produced as part of the project.
Counsel submitted that the CD-ROM, which contained copies of Ghana Law Reports and legal authorities, was in evidence and, therefore, the prosecution could not say that there had been a financial loss.
Replying, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Osafo Sampong said the charges were not defective.
He said the court must find it as a fact that through the acts of Selormey the state incurred a loss.
Mr. Sampong said the state did not sign any contract with Leebda for the accused to cause the transfer of more than 1.2 million dollars to the company.
The DPP said there was enough evidence to show that the contract Selormey entered into with the company did not provide any service.
Source: GhanaWeb
