The state prosecutors investigating potential procurement violations and corruption-related offences involving three former Northern Development Authority (NDA) officials and one private citizen have dropped the original charges against the four defendants.
New charges have been brought against them.
In the special prosecutor’s investigation report, the four people were cited for procurement violations.
During the most recent sitting, the court established April 4 as the start date for the trial.
On Tuesday, however, the prosecution asked the court to allow the team to withdraw the first charges and replace them with fresh ones.
Eleven charges, including corruption, have been filed against the four defendants.
Due to the withdrawal, High Court Judge Justice Ankomah Eric Ansah dismissed the prior claim and discharged the defendants.
They were not, however, permitted to leave the courtroom since a new suit had been presented to the court.
All eleven charges were pled not guilty to by the defendants.
The defense attorney requested bail, which the judge granted. Without rationale, the defendants have been forced to deposit their passports at the court’s registry and submit two sureties totaling 2 million cedis.
The sureties have been required to make an assurance that if the accused persons do not appear in court as directed, they would pay the state a bail fee of 2 million cedis.
The accused are also not permitted to travel outside the jurisdiction of the court unless expressly authorised by the court.
The court also ordered the prosecution to exchange any documents they intend to rely on in the case with the accused, as well as file witness statements for everything they intend to use and serve on the accused, by April 18.
