The Commercial Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour has fixed the 8th of next month to determine a submission of no case filed by lawyers of William Ato Essien and three others who are standing trial.
On April 29, the state closed its case after calling 17 witnesses but, the accused persons who were to open their defense indicated that they were filing a submission of no case.
Only two of the accused persons have met the May 25, deadline given by the court.
Lawyers of Ato Essien could not file within the time but informed the court they have filed their submission of no case a day earlier.
Counsel for Tetteh Nettey prayed the court for an extension of time to file their submission of no case.
Court of Appeal Judge Justice Kyei-Baffour, sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, after hearing the parties, fixed the 8th of next month to give his ruling.
The court said, at the last sitting on April 29, the defense lawyers indicated to the court when the prosecution closed its case that they were desirous of making a submission of no case to answer to the charges against the accused persons.
The State is to file a response to all the submissions by the 18th of this month. The four accused persons have been charged with a total of twenty-six counts. Some of which are Conspiracy to Steal, Abetment of crime, Stealing and money laundering but they have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
By: Yvonne Asare Offei.
