[ 2011-11-29 ]

Judge frustrated in Obinim case
ERIC Kyei Baffour, a circuit court judge hearing
the case of Bishop Daniel Obinim, yesterday
expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the
Attorney-General’s Department is handling the
matter.

This was after the judge observed that the
State-Attorney assigned to handle the case, after
about an hour of waiting, failed to show up in
court. He subsequently warned the prosecution that
if that happened again, he would strike out the
case.

On the last adjourned date, Cynthia Lamptey, the
state attorney, through ASP Reindorf Agyemang, had
requested from the court two weeks to study the
case.

The judge, who normally hears the case of Obinim
around 8:30am, waited yesterday to about 9:30am
before the case was called. All the parties,
including the bishop, who normally comes very
early, were present as at that time.

When the judge noticed that the State Attorney was
not present, he said, “I am very disappointed at
the A-G, it seems they are not interested in the
case.”

ASP Agyemang said he did not know why the State
Attorney was not in court. The judge then asked
where the investigator was and the police officer
responded that the investigator called him in the
morning that he was coming but could not explain
what had accounted for the delay.

Mr. Barfour said, “I do not accept delays in my
court. If the investigator has finished with his
investigation and somebody has been assigned to
take over, then, let whoever at the A-G’s office
know that if he or she does not come, I will
strike out the case.”

He subsequently adjourned the matter to December
19, 2011 but with a strong warning to the AG that
he would proceed to end the case if they failed to
show up.

Bishop Daniel Obinim, leader of God’s Way
International Church, and two of his associate
pastors have been accused of assaulting two
journalists at an Accra-based radio station, Hot
FM.

On the last adjourned date, ASP Agyemang informed
the court that the A-G had taken over the case
from the police and that Cynthia Lamptey, the new
prosecutor, requested two weeks to enable her to
study the case.

The case was forwarded to the A-G because one of
the charges, the use of offensive weapon,
preferred against Bishop Obinim, was a first
degree felony.

Kwame Afriyie, counsel for Obinim, during one of
the court sittings, hinted that there were some
negotiations going on behind the scenes to get the
case amicably resolved out of court.

However, management of Hot FM, in a press release,
denied any such negotiations and indicated that
they were prepared to continue with the case in
court.

The bishop and his associate pastors, Kingsley
Baah, 25, and Kofi Akwettey, 35, are jointly
facing five charges of conspiracy to commit crime,
unlawful entry, causing damage to private property
and assault.

Obinim had two additional counts of the use of
offensive weapon and causing unlawful harm.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges
and are on a GH¢50,000 with two sureties each.

According to the prosecutor, the damages caused by
the accused persons to the equipment at Hot FM
studios were estimated at GH¢130,850.

Some of the items destroyed included a voice
processor, Telos Hybria, two CD players, headphone
distributor, telephone sets, laptops, electro
voice microphone among others.

The bishop, who looked very sober yesterday, as
early as 8:30am, was in court.

As usual, his church members were at the court to
show solidarity.

The accused persons, according to the prosecutor
on Monday, August 8, 2011, stormed the studios of
Hot FM and attacked Paul Kwame Ntim Okatakyie, the
host of ‘Nya Asem Hwe,’ an Akan programme on
the station, and another panelist, Shadrach Adu.

Source - Daily Guide

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