Court dismisses Wontumi’s application for further disclosures 

An Accra High Court on Monday dismissed an application filed by lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking further disclosures from the State.

The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, held that after listening to submissions from defence counsel and Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai, there was no justification for ordering additional disclosures.

The court noted that the prosecution had indicated it did not have the documents requested by the defence and was also unable to procure them.

The case has been adjourned to December 15 for the continuation of the Case Management Conference.

During proceedings, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for the accused, informed the court that the defence had filed a motion on notice requesting the State to serve them with further disclosures.

He argued that the prosecution intended to rely on a purported mining document allegedly signed by Wontumi and another individual.

“We pray the court to make an order directing the prosecution to furnish the defence team with the necessary documents,” he submitted.

Deputy Attorney-General Srem-Sai opposed the motion, insisting that the State did not possess the document in question, identified as a deed of assignment.

Earlier, the court reviewed aspects of Wontumi’s bail conditions.

It emerged that although the court had ordered the accused to report to the case investigator, the directive had not been complied with by the investigator.

The court, therefore, ordered that Wontumi should instead report to the court registrar, with the reports duly recorded and submitted.

Wontumi, together with Kwame Anto and Akonta Mining Company Limited, his mining firm, has been charged for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.

He has been charged with facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, while his co-director, Kwame Antwi, is facing a charge of assigning mineral rights without approval.

Wontumi has denied the charges, while Antwi is currently at large.

Source: GNA