Tempers flared up at an Accra Fast Track Court hearing the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) case, at its sitting on Wednesday, when an argument ensued between the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a Defence Counsel.

During cross-examination of a prosecution witness by the defence counsel, Mr David Lamptey, when Mr Osafo Sampong, the DPP alleged that counsel was whispering words into the ears of Police Superintendent Alhaji Bukari Yakubu, sixth prosecution witness, to distract his attention.

Mr Lamptey did not take kindly to the DPP's remark, and wondered why such an allegation could be made by the DPP when the witness was not even a defence witness.

In his fury, Mr Lamptey said he was senior to the DPP at the bar, and therefore asked the DPP to withdraw his remark and render an unqualified apology.

Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and a prosecutor in the case drew the court's attention to the fact that Mr Lamptey did not go by laid down procedure in asking the DPP to withdraw the remark he made because counsel failed to address the chair.

It was at that juncture that the trial judge intervened to cool down tempers, and asked both sides to forget about the matter.

Supt. Yakubu was in court to give evidence about a forensic test he conducted at the instance of the prosecution on the handwritings of three persons connected with the case.

The three are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), and one of the four accused persons in the trial; Dr Albert Owusu-Barnafo, third prosecution witness and Madam Georgina Okaitey, member of the movement.

With Ayittey in the dock are Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former executive secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee, Ralph Casely-Hayford, businessman, and Sati Dorcas Ocran, housewife.

They are being tried for their alleged involvement in bribery and corruption in connection with the privatisation of GREL.

All the accused persons have denied charges against them, and have been granted bail in their own recognisance by the court.

Testifying earlier, Dr Owusu-Barnafo told the court that a note he received from Madam Okaitey, was allegedly the handwriting of Ayittey.

It was this alleged hand writing, which was in dispute that warranted the forensic test Supt Yakubu conducted with his subsequent appearance in court to testify for the prosecution.

Later in response to a question by counsel under cross-examination as to what type of camera he used to "blow" the extracts he took from statements of the three persons, witness said he was not the one who took the pictures, and could not therefore tell.

The case has been adjourned to Thursday, February 6, for continuation.