Court frees Ocran in GREL case

An Accra Fast Track Court on Wednesday acquitted and discharged Sati Dorcas Ocran, housewife, and one of the four persons on trial in the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture case.

The court, however, asked the three other accused persons to open their defence on Wednesday, December 17.

The three are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) and Ralph Casely-Hayford, businessman.

Giving his ruling on a submission of no case against the four by defence counsel, the trial judge, Mr Justice J C Amonoo-Monney, Judge of the Court of Appeal, with an additional responsibility on the matter as a High Court Judge, stated that he was acquitting Ocran because the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against her.

In respect of Ayittey, who is facing six counts, the court acquitted her on the first three counts, but ordered that she answered charges on the rest of the counts.

The court was of the view that in resting its case, prosecution had been able to prove beyond all reasonable doubts that Agbodo and Casely-Hayford who are facing a count each, have a case to answer and for that matter should open their defence.

By the virtue of their various positions, the accused persons allegedly indulged in corrupt practices in connection with the privatisation of GREL.

They allegedly used their various positions to influence the DIC board to divest GREL in favour of a French liability company, Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea (SIPH).

They have denied their various charges, and are currently on bail in their own recognisance.

Ayittey is being represented by Mr David Lamptey, while Agbodo and Casely-Hayford are being defended by Mr J E Senoo and Mr Rodney Heward-Mills respectively.

Mr Tony Lithur was counsel for Ocran who is now a free person.