Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, presiding High Court judge hearing the case involving Cecilia Dapaah and her stolen monies has granted bail in the sum of GH¢750,000.00 with two sureties each to the former minister’s house helps and five other suspects standing trial.
The judge ordered that one of the sureties should be justified with landed property and the other must be a resident of Accra, as well as gainfully employed.
The judge further ordered that the residences of the accused persons and their sureties should be inspected by the case investigator, as well as each of the surety is to provide a copy of his or her Ghana Card to the court registry.
Similarly, the police investigator is to take photographs of the accused persons and make three copies of each, and the cost to be borne by the accused persons.
In court on Friday November 10, 203 state prosecutors revealed the sources of former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s stolen monies explaining that the monies were a family funeral contribution, funds from an external family member for a building project and that of a deceased brother.
Assistant State Prosecutor (ASP), Akosua Agyapomaa Agyamang told the court that, out of these monies allegedly stolen from the former minister’s home, US$200,000 belonged to one Dorcas Akua Owiredu, a niece of her husband, whilst US$210,000 was for her deceased brother, Nana Akwasi Essen II, also known as Charles Dapaah, aka Kwaku Nantwi.
Three hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢300,000) of the missing cash was a family contribution made towards Madam Cecilia’s mother’s funeral.
ASP Akosua also added that 300,000 euros and GH¢50,000 belonged to Daniel Osei Kuffour and Madam Cecilia Dapaah respectively.
The case which was initially held at the Circuit Court was withdrawn to the High Court following fresh charges by state prosecutors.
Other stolen items include five suits valued at US$2,500; five pieces of Kente valued at GH¢75,000; jewellery valued at US$95,000; female Kente, Hollandaise and GTP cloth all totalling GH¢56,000; Dresses at GH¢20,000; Handbags at US$35,000 and Perfumes at US$1,400.
About GH¢6 million of the stolen money was allegedly used to fund the lavish lifestyle of Patience Botwe, an 18-year-old housemaid of Madam Cecilia.
Patience allegedly spent over GH¢2 million on purchasing houses, about GH¢851,600.00 on cars, doled out GH¢100,000.00 to an ex-boyfriend and cash of GH¢72,619.00 and US$40,000.00 were retrieved from her.
The 18-year-old allegedly has about five cars registered in her name and other, prices of four of them had been determined one, a 2013 Hyundai Accent model’s price is yet to be established, whilst the monies were retrieved from two of her residences.
These amounts are calculations of some of the monies allegedly stolen from the Minister and her family by Patience alone.
ASP Akosua told the presiding judge, Justice Marie -Louise Simmons that, the teenager allegedly used part of the money to rent a 4-bedroom apartment and a shop at Tamale, and had her rented apartment fully furnished.
Although the State Prosecutor did not quote specifically how much was spent on rent by the former minister’s then young maid servant, the lower court was told that Patience spent a total sum of GH¢125, 600.00.
Patience Botwe, first accused (A1) is not standing trial alone, but with Sarah Agyei (A2), a 30-year old unemployed and also former domestic worker of Madam Cecelia.
The rest of the accused persons are Benjamin Sowah (A3), Malik Dauda (A4), Christina Achab (A5), Job Pomary (A6) and Yahaya Sumaila (A7).
A1’s trial started from the juvenile court, circuit court and now at the third level of the court hierarchy, the high court.
Sarah on the other was alleged to have been the one who gave keys to the couple’s bedroom and its storeroom to Patience to duplicate them for her.
The teenager is alleged to have confessed that on different occasions, she stole money from the couple with Sarah.
Sarah served as Patience’s conveyer belt for the transfer of GH¢100,000 to Malik Dauda, an old friend of A1.
A2 allegedly bought a 2-bedroom house and had put up another one. It was said that often times, Sarah seeks the assistance of her building project electrician to count money in the range of GH¢5,000.00 to GH¢90,000.00.
At least two jewel boxes believed to be the property of the former minister were retrieved from her.
They have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, money laundering and dishonestly receiving.
The house helps, together with the five others, one of whom is an employee of Madam Cecilia’s husband, Daniel Kuffour, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution was ordered to file disclosure before December 12, 2023.
