Lawyer Granted Bail Over Alleged Stealing Charge

Jah Josiah, a Lawyer, who was remanded for failing to appear before a circuit court, has been admitted to bail by an Accra High Court.

When Josiah appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Monday, the court had fixed March 20, 2014, for his trial to commence.

On March 3rd, this year, the circuit court, presided over by Ms Ellen Vivian Amoah remanded Josiah into police custody, following the issuance of a bench warrant to effect his arrest.

Josiah, since August last year, had failed to attend to court over a stealing charge which he had denied.He is accused of misappropriating 23,125 dollars belonging to John Oscar Hanson.

The amount was given to Josiah to pay same to Bank of Ghana (BOG), after Mr. Hanson had been accused of operating a bank without licence, but he (Josiah) failed to pay the money.

Following his frequent absenteeism in court, Josiah’s bail condition of GH¢30,000 with one surety was reviewed by the court, presided over by Ms Ellen Vivian Amoah to GH¢50,000 with three sureties.

Josiah was rounded up by the police after he appeared at the premises of the Cocoa Affairs Court.Prosecution contended that the complainant was the manager of Onward Investment Limited, Sunyani branch, but resides at Ashongman.

In 2011, the complainant’s company was accused by the Bank of Ghana for collecting monies from the public, without a licence and the matter was reported to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters, Commercial Crime Unit and the accused acted as counsel for Mr. Hanson.

Prosecution said the complainant decided to pay $23,125 to BOG in February 2012 and, therefore, informed Josiah, his counsel.

Prosecution said Josiah collected the money but failed to pay it to BOG and bolted with it.A report was, therefore, made to the Police at Osu and Josiah was arrested. During interrogation Josiah admitted collecting the money in his caution statements.

Josiah said he had invested the money in his business and pleaded with the Police to give him reasonable time to refund it. GNA