Asabee-BNI Tango Adjourned Indefinitely

The issue of whether or not the contempt application against Yaw Donkor, the Director Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and two others, which was slated for hearing at the Court of Appeal was yesterday adjourned sine die. This was after the state attorney in the case, Helen Kwawukume, told the court they had filed certain processes which were yet to be received by the court. The state, who lost the application to have the case heard in camera because the persons involved were security officials, is seeking the intervention of the court of Appeal and wants the Appeals Court Judges, Justice Hornyenugah, to order a stay of proceedings at an Accra Human Rights Court where the case is being heard. The former minister for Information, Asamoah Boateng and his family filed a contempt application against Mr. Donkor, Stephen Abrokwa, and Josephine Bandayiri of the BNI for preventing him from travelling. This was when they were about to board a flight to the United Kingdom and the BNI officers, without an arrest warrant, stopped him whilst no criminal charges had been preferred against him. Mrs. Helen Kwawukume, on the last hearing date, informed the trial judge hearing the substantive contempt case, Justice U.P Derry, that they had filed an order for stay of proceedings since their appeal was yet to be determined. She maintained that since the persons were security officers, they would have wished that the officers appeared in camera instead of an open court, but the judge noted that they enjoyed the same rights and privileges like the police so they should appear before him in the open court. The state attorney said they had asked for a copy of proceedings but they were yet to be given one and prayed the court to halt the trial for the time being to enable them go on the appeal, adding that if they lose it, they would return to his court. Nene Amegatcher, counsel for Mr Asamoah-Boateng popularly called Asabee, told the court that even though a stay of proceedings had been filed, the case was still under his jurisdiction, adding that just because the appeal has been filed does not mean the case should automatically be halted. He said the BNI Director and the two others who were ordered to appear in court, but failed to do so, had not shown any respect for the court and should therefore be arrested and brought to court on the orders of the judge. Mr. Asamoah-Boateng�s family, Zuleika Lorwia, his wife, and their two children, Nana Yaw Asamoah Boateng and Andrews Asamoah Boateng are also involved in the case.