Quayson criminal case: Court sets June 21 to hear ‘motion against daily hearings’

The High Court has adjourned to Wednesday, June 21, 2023, a motion filed by the accused in the case of perjury and forgery, James Gyakye Quasyon against the court’s previous order for a daily hearing of the case.

The court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh had on the previous sitting, ruled that the case be heard on a day-to-day basis starting from June 20.

This ruling followed a prayer by  Justin Terriwajjah, counsel for the accused for the trial to be continued after the Assin North by-election which comes on June 27, 2023.

He noted that his client is currently embarking on a campaign in a bid to win the Assin North seat to represent them in parliament thus the need for the court to agree to his plea to provide a better playing field in the campaign.

This was however opposed by the Attorney General arguing that the nature of the case rather demands an expeditious trial thus leading to the ruling by the court.

Subsequently, on June 19, 2023, counsels for Mr. Quayson filed a motion to vary the court's decision and was thus supposed to move the same.

In court today, lawyers for Mr Quayson led by counsel, Tsatsu Tsikata prayed for the motion to be moved.

However, the Deputy AG, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah noted that his side would need time to respond to the motion and thus prayed the court to adjourn the case accordingly.

Mr. Tsatsu Tsaikata, in addressing the court, described comments made by the AG in the previous court sitting while arguing against the accused’s motion, as prejudicial, unjustified, and insulting.

Additionally, he revisited the previous plea made by his junior counsel to the effect that their client is contesting in the upcoming by-election at the Assin North slated for June 27.

Counsel, moreover pointed to an aspect of the case before the Supreme Court, fixed for June 22 and clashes with aspect of the court’s orders and stressed that his side will need time to prepare for same.

Therefore Mr Tsikata prayed the court to adjourn the case to June 28, after the by-election since the AG was not ready to respond to the motion today.

On his part, the Deputy AG insisted that the issues raised by the accused in the motion, do not warrant the request made by counsel especially when it was just filed the previous day.

Also, Mr Tuah Yeboah noted that what had been said by the accused in the motion, was an attack on his office and thus needed time to respond.

Moreover, the Deputy AG, in responding to the accused’s counsel, noted that the court had already taken dates up to June 21 before the last sitting it was only 22 and 23 that were added.

In conclusion, he emphasized that the Attorney General would need time to respond to the motion and thus prayed the court adjourn tomorrow.

The court, in its ruling, thus adjourned the case to Wednesday, June 21 for the motion to be heard.

Background

Mr. James Gyakye Quayson is facing charges of perjury and forgery of a passport with the specific charges being; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration. 

 He has meanwhile pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was granted bail to the tune of GHc 100,000.