The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has urged the High Court to dismiss the bail application pending the appeal against the 20-year jail term imposed on NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Wontumi.
Lawyers for Chairman Wontumi have challenged the 20-year jail term for illegal mining-related offences on his Samreboi concession.
In his affidavit in opposition to the bail pending appeal, the Attorney-General indicated that Wontumi’s appeal has no reasonable prospect of success and therefore does not provide sufficient grounds for his release from custody.
The document further noted, among other things, that there are no special circumstances to admit the application.
The Attorney General added that the convict is a flight risk who will flee the jurisdiction, given his other pending cases.
“That by the grounds of appeal contained in the Exhibit CB2, the appeal, contrary to the averments in Paragraphs 6, 7,8,9, 10 and 11 of the affidavit in support of the motion, discloses no reasonable chance of success.
“That contrary to the averments in Paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of the affidavit in support of the motion, the Applicant constitutes significant flight risk.
“That in further response to the averments in Paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of the affidavit in support of the motion, the materiality of the risk that the Appellant will flee is corroborated by his previous counsel who recently informed the public via a television interview that but for his intense management of the Appellant’s chaotic character, the Appellant was at all time material determined to resist arrest or breach his bail conditions. Attached and marked as Exhibit AG1 is a video of the Appellant’s previous counsel’s announcement.
“That in further response to the averments in Paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of the affidavit in support of the motion, the materiality of the risk that the Appellant will flee is enhanced by the fact that the Appellant is standing criminal trial in other matters in respect of which he, if convicted, stands to be imprisoned for a considerable number of years.”
The defence lawyers are expected to move their motion on August 19 at the High Court.
By Laud Adu-Asare
