Criminal Court 3 of the Accra High Court has adjourned the trial of embattled Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson to October 18 in anticipation of the outcome of an earlier application filed by counsels for the MP at the Supreme Court.
When the case was called at 12.05 pm on Wednesday, the lead counsel for Gyakye Quayson, Tsatsu Tsikata told the court about an application they had filed at the apex court on Monday, July 18.
The application sought to obtain an order from the Supreme Court to dismiss his objection against the first prosecution witness statement which was overruled by the High Court.
Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, therefore, prayed the court to halt the trial pending the determination of his application at the apex court.
He also requested an early hearing of the application adding that he was hoping to provide copies to the court. He noted that they have been informed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court that they are waiting for a date to be fixed by the Chief Justice.
Reacting to the development, Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa expressed dissatisfaction but did not oppose Lawyer Tsikata’s prayer to the court.
“I have not seen anything, I am hearing that now and he has just informed the court,” she noted
She, therefore, requested more clarity on the application from lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata.
In response, the lead counsel for the embattled Assin North MP reiterated that they were yet to get a date from the apex court and as a result would not be able to release copies of the application.
The presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh after listening to both parties, took Mr Tsikata by his word although she had not seen the copies of the application and granted his plea, adjourning the case to October 18.
As a result, the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Richard Takyi-Mensah, has been put on hold.
