Upper Bobikuma C/R, Dec 30, GNA - The Chiefs and people of Upper Bobikuma in the Agona District have declared their intention to appeal against the judgement of a Swedru Circuit Court in a stealing case between the community and a former Assemblyman for the area.

Mr Peter Nti, Chairman of the Concerned Citizens Association of Upper Bobikuma, speaking at a news conference at Upper Bobikuma attended by the Chiefs, leaders of the Youth Association and the Concern Citizens Association and other opinion leaders, appealed to the Chief Justice and the Attorney General to "look into" the prosecution and the conduct of judiciary personnel who handled the case.

According to him, even though judgement in the case was given on December 9, this year, acquitting and discharging the former Assemblyman, Mr Jonathan Kwame Nkrumah, for lack of prosecution, all efforts to get a true certified copy of the ruling to enable the community to file notice of appeal have proved futile.

Mr Nti who was flanked by Nana Yaw Buabeng, Chief of the Town and Mr John Otabil, an Executive of the Concerned Citizens Association, said personnel at the Court Registry claimed they could not read the handwriting of the Judge and therefore could not produce the true certified copy of the judgement unless the Judge himself dictated the ruling for them.

He criticised the handling of the case by prosecution and the ruling since Mr Nkrumah allegedly acknowledged in his statement to the Police that he sold two wooden electricity poles, which were part of a consignment supplied to the town by the government in 1996 for its electrification project to defray debts owed him by the community. A contractor who bought the poles also confirmed to the court during cross-examination that he collected the poles from the house of the former assemblyman, he stated.

Mr Nti noted that because the two poles were not erected part of the town could not get electricity supply, saying, "if some former Ministers of State are serving prison terms for causing financial lose to the state why should a former assembly man be getting out of cases at this court in controversial circumstances".

He appealed to the Chief Justice and the Attorney General to ensure that the case was revisited to ease tension in the area and to uphold the "sanctity" of the judiciary