The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice is set to move trial of the house help of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and others accused from the Circuit Court to the Accra High Court.
This means the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing filed against Ms Patience Botwe, 18, the maid, and seven others, at the Accra Circuit Court, would be withdrawn.
Police prosecutor DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye told the court on Wednesday November 1, 2023.
According to the Police prosecutor, charges made against the accused persons would be withdrawn when a date was set for hearing of the case at the High Court.
Ms Patience 18, who is the prime suspect and housemaid of former Sanitation minsiter, Cecilia Dapaah and seven others are currently in police custody for allegedly stealing some $1million and €300,000 including some valuable belonging to the former minister and her husband from their residence at Ablemkpe.
In July 2023, it was reported that, the house help Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, allegedly stole the money and personal effects of the couple, between July and October 2022.
Both have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis.
Their arrest and interrogation led to the rest of other accomplices Benjamin Sowah, 29, plumber, Malik Dauda, 34, unemployed, Christiana Achab, a trader, Job Pomary, a mechanic, and Yahaya Sumaila, Excavator operator while the eighth accused person is at large.
Cecilia Dapaah subsequently resigned from her position after a public uproar leading to the Special Prosecutor commencing investigation into the matter.
Madam Cecilia Dapaah has since been under investigation by the OSP.
In court of Wednesday November 1, DSP Nyamekye said “The State Attorney informed me that they have filed an enhanced Charged Sheet at the High Court on Tuesday October 31 and waiting for a date to be issued.”
He added that following the latest turn of events, the charge sheet before the Circuit Court would be withdrawn and taken to the High Court when the date is set.
“If a date is assigned, the Prosecution “will come and seek the leave of the Court and withdraw the case from here (Circuit Court) and continue at High Court”, he emphasized.
The case has been adjourned to November 8.
