I was not dismissed - Investigator

Accra, July 16, GNA-Detective Sergeant Amidu Imoro, investigator in the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture case on Wednesday stated in court that he was neither dismissed nor interdicted after investigating the matter.

In answer to a question put to him under cross-examination by defence counsel, Sergeant Imoro, ninth prosecution witness in the case, told the Fast Track Court that, rather, he was transferred to the Ministry of the Interior after completing investigations into the theft at GREL.

Four persons are standing trial at the court for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices in connection with the privatisation of the company.

The four, Hanny Sherry Ayittey, treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former executive secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee, Ralph Casely-Hayford, businessman, and Sati Dorcas Ocran, housewife.

They have all denied their various charges, and each of them is currently on self-recognisance bail.

Continuing his evidence under further cross-examination by Mr Rodney Heward-Mills, counsel for Casely-Hayford, Sergeant Imoro recalled that on April 12, 2001, he was among a three-member investigation team, which looked into the matter.

He said on the 4th of the following month, he received instructions from his superiors to charge Casely-Hayford with the offence of stealing, which he did.

Witness disagreed with a suggestion by counsel that he struck a deal with two other prosecution witnesses, Mr Etienne Marie Popeler, former managing director of GREL and Dr Albert Owusu-Barnafo, member of the company's board, not to charge them.

Sergeant Imoro disagreed with another suggestion by Mr J E Senoo, counsel for Agbodo, that in the course of his assignment, he did not find anything against the accused person.

Mr Jonny Quarshie-Idun and Mr Anthony Lithur are defending Ayittey and Ocran resepctively.

Further hearing of the case has been fixed for Friday, July 18.