The Office of the Attorney- General has filed opposition to an application seeking to defer judgment in the ongoing criminal trial of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over alleged illegal mining activities in Samreboi.
The application for postponement of judgment was filed by lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea, who recently took over legal representation for the accused person.
However, the Attorney- General’s Office is urging the court to dismiss the request and proceed with the delivery of judgment.
In a 13-paragraph affidavit in opposition filed on Thursday, June 25, Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh argued that the application lacks merit.
According to the prosecution, Chairman Wontumi has been consistently represented throughout the trial, and the withdrawal of his previous lawyer was voluntary and not due to any unavoidable circumstance.
The State contends that under such conditions, new counsel should obtain case records and briefing from outgoing lawyers rather than seeking intervention from the court registry.
The prosecution further questioned the decision by the new defense counsel to request case materials directly from the court registry, describing the move as procedurally improper and not made in good faith.
