Charles Bissue’s attempt to use a judicial review application to overturn an arrest warrant issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been unsuccessful.
Legal representatives for the former secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) are endeavoring to prevent the court’s order for him to undergo cross-examination.
In their petition, Bissue’s lawyers argued that the arrest warrant should be invalidated on the grounds of malice.
The OSP had declared Bissue wanted after he failed to respond to an invitation from the Special Prosecutor to participate in questioning related to the ongoing investigation into suspected corruption within the dissolved IMCIM. He was subsequently apprehended upon surrendering himself.
On November 8, the Human Rights Court imposed a GH¢500 fine on Charles Bissue, citing his failure to make a decision regarding his case seeking to halt the OSP’s investigation and prosecution against him.
The OSP, through its Facebook page, announced that the court has adjourned the case to February 1, granting Bissue’s legal team additional time to submit written arguments for the case.
Below is the OSP’s Facebook post.
On Monday, 15 January 2024, Charles Bissue’s lawyer was unsuccessful in seeking the court to rescind its decision to have him cross-examined.
At the last adjourned date, the court granted the OSP permission to cross-examine Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
This decision was made in response to an affidavit submitted by Mr. Awuah, claiming that the Office had obtained a warrant for Bissue’s arrest. A warrant he has failed to produce in court till date because it does not exist. The Court subsequently injuncted the Office from arresting Mr. Bissue for ten days.
As per the court’s directive, Bissue’s lawyer was also supposed to submit his written submissions for the case.
However, he failed to do so, citing a torn ligament as the reason and requested additional time.
The Court has fixed 1 February 2024 by which time lawyer for Bissue is expected to have filed his written submission and fit to be cross-examined.
