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Tsikata's bail application thrown out
Accra, June 18, Ghanadot/GNA - An Accra Fast Track High
Court on Wednesday refused an application for bail made by
the jailed Former Chief Executive of the Ghana National
Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata to enable him
to file the necessary papers for an appeal.
Tsatsu, who made the application himself by reading from
notes he made while judgement was being delivered, said the
bail would also enable him to contact his Lawyer, who had
travelled out of the country.
"The application for bail is refused," Mrs Justice Henrietta
Abban, the trial judge, said. "You have the right to appeal
against the decision of the court," she added.
The Court earlier sentenced Tsikata to five years'
imprisonment for wilfully causing financial loss to the
State and misapplying public property.
He was found guilty on three counts of causing financial
loss to the State and one count of misapplying public
property and jailed for five years on each count. The
sentences will run concurrently.
He pleaded not guilty and was on a self-recognisance bail.
Mrs Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, Principal State Attorney, in
the company of Joe Ghartey, Attorney General, opposed the
bail application.
She said there was no notice of appeal before the Court,
adding he could not "put something on nothing".
Mrs Obuobisa said even if there was an appeal, that should
apply in special or unusual circumstances including the
likelihood of success. However, she said, the appeal was
likely to fail.
Tsatsu was charged with three counts of wilfully causing
financial loss of GH¢230,000 (2.3 billion cedis) to the
State through a loan he, on behalf of GNPC, guaranteed for
Valley Farms, a private company, and another count of
misapplying public property.
GNA
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