Alfred Woyome Discharged... And Re-arrested!!!

Drama unfolded at an Accra High Court on Tuesday when businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome, thought he had been discharged and was therefore a free man after the state filed a nolle prosequi. But moments after that decision by the state, he was re-arrested within the premises of the court and slapped with two fresh charges. He has been charged with defrauding by false pretence and causing financial loss to the State to the tune of GhC 51 million. The state, on Tuesday, indicated it was no longer interested in prosecuting Mr Woyome and the three others. Mr. Woyome, interdicted Chief State Attorney, Mr Nerquaye-Tettey; who was facing two counts of conspiracy and corruption of public officer, his wife, Gifty Tetteh-Nerquaye and Mr Asimenu; each facing one count of abetment of crime, were standing trial for their roles in the infamous GHC51 million judgment debt payment to Mr Woyome as compensation for the abrogation of a contract to build stadia for the 2008 African Cup of Nations. They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Woyome case, which had been pending in court for months now, was scheduled for trial Tuesday after the the Financial Division of the Fast Track High Court chaired by John Ajet-Nasam, ordered the accused to report himself to the police later in the day to enable them to take further statements from him so as to continue the case of the fraudulent payment to him. The expectation therefore was that the state would present its case today, but state prosecutors, led by Cynthia Lamptey, told the court it was no longer interested in pursuing the matter. However, more drama was to follow when the police re-arrested the stunned NDC financier. Looking quite calm in court, Mr Woyome pleaded not guilty to all two charges - defrauding by false pretence and causing financial loss to the State to the tune of GhC 51 million - was immediately granted bail. His bail bond in the previous criminal case was used to substitute for the fresh charges. Meanwhile, the other persons involved in the case have all been discharged, for now.