Marie Arthur-Popeler to be in court on October 16 - DPP

The Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), Mr. Etienne Marie Arthur-Popeler would appear at the next sitting of the Fast Track Court (FTC) trying four persons for alleged corruption during the divestiture of the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL).

The State Prosecution contacted Mr. Arthur-Popeler after proceedings on July 29 and he gave an assurance of his willingness and preparedness to appear at the next sitting on Wednesday October 16.

The FTC, which is trying the four persons for their alleged involvement in bribery and corruption in connection with the divestiture of the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL), earlier this week adjourned proceedings after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Osafo Sampong informed the court that Mr. Arthur Popeler, who is the Second Prosecution Witness (PW2) in the case, could not be reached to enable him to be cross-examined by defence counsel.

Mr. Arthur-Popeler explained that his inability to be in court last Monday was due to the short notice given to him by the Ghana Embassy in Belgium. PW2 had sent an e-mail to his former employer, GREL to buy him an air ticket for the trip.

The DPP denied asking the court to substitute PW2 with a third Prosecution Witness, he explained that he suggested that a PW3 should be allowed to give evidence, which counsel for the accused persons strongly opposed.

He said the Trial Judge quoting section 69 of the Evidence Decree on the "Courts Controls Mode And Order Of Interrogation" objected to the introduction of a new witness, as the courts were due for vacation.

The long adjournment was necessitated by the fact that legal vacation commences in August.

The accused persons are: Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Director of Finance and Projects of the 31st December Women's Movement, Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Chief Executive of the Divestiture Implementation Committee, Ralph Casely-Hayford, a businessman and Satirieh Dorcas Ocran, a housewife.

The four allegedly assisted Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea (SIPH), a French company, to win the bid for GREL's divestiture. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charge, and each of them is on a self-recognisance bail.

The second prosecution witness, who was to continue with his cross-examination by Mr. Johnny Quarshie-Idun, counsel for Ayittey, was the former Managing Director of GREL, Mr. Etienne Marie Arthur-Popeler.