Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - A Fast Track Court in Accra on Tuesday fixed December 21 for ruling in the case in which Tsatsu Tsikata, Former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), is charged with wilfully causing financial loss of 2.3 billion cedis to the state. He is also charged with another count of "intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Decree 1977 (SMCD140)". He has denied the charges. Tsatsu had been admitted to a 700 million-cedi self-recognisance bail.

Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban, Appeal Court Judge with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, directed that on the adjourned date, the Court would continue with proceedings.

She said "the Court cannot proceed with the case, since the accused person is absent". She, therefore, in consultation with Prosecution, adjourned the case.

The Defence Team was also absent from Court, but arrived after the Court had closed.

Professor E.V.O. Dankwa and Major R. S. Agbenotor (rtd) are representing the accused while Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecution and Mr Augustine Obour, Assistant State Attorney, are representing the State

In March 2003, the FTC over-ruled the submission of no case filed by Tsatsu accused and ordered that he should open his defence in the case.

Tsatsu then filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in November last year, it was then dismissed on the grounds that it lacked merit and, therefore, ordered him to go back to the FTC to open his defence in the case.

He then filed an appeal to challenge the Appeal Court's ruling. He is also seeking a relief from the Supreme Court to quash that decision and order, and to uphold his submission of "no case."