An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to two out of the seven individuals on trial in the case involving the theft from the residence of former Minister for Sanitation, Madam Cecilia Dapaah.

The court has set the bail amount at GHC1 million, requiring each of the two accused persons to provide three sureties.

Notably, the two accused individuals who were granted bail are lactating mothers. Conversely, the court has remanded the remaining five accused persons into Police custody.

The charges against the accused individuals encompass eleven counts of alleged theft of a substantial sum of money from the former Minister's residence. Specifically, six counts pertain to theft, while five counts involve the dishonest reception of the stolen assets.

The presiding judge, Mrs. Afia Owusuaa Appiah, has mandated the sureties to undergo validation. Additionally, the defense attorneys for the lactating mothers are required to furnish documented evidence substantiating their status as lactating mothers.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, informed the court that both fact and charge sheets have undergone amendments.

In related developments, Kwaku Botwe, father of Patience Botwe, has been discharged by the court. One of the accused individuals, Franklin Sarakpo, remains at large.

The court has adjourned the case to August 22, 2023. The complainants in the matter are Mr. Daniel Osei Kufour and his wife, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, residing in Abelemkpe, Accra.

The first accused person, Patience Botwe (alias Maabena), previously served as a househelp for the complainants. The second accused person, Sarah Agyei, is unemployed and was previously a house help for the complainants.

The third accused person, Benjamin Sowah, is the boyfriend of Patience Botwe, while the fourth accused person, Malik Dauda, was previously in a relationship with the first accused.

The fifth accused, Christiana Achab, is a trader. The sixth accused, Job Pomary, is the husband of the fifth accused. The seventh accused, Yahaya Sumaila, is an excavator operator residing in Sagnarigu, Tamale.

The eighth accused, Franklin Sarakpo, the son of the fifth accused, is currently evading arrest.

As of June 2023, the complainants reported the theft of cash and personal belongings. In response, the Police initiated an investigation. Subsequently, the arrest of the first and third accused persons in Tamale led to the discovery of USD40,000 and GHC7,619.70 during a search of their rooms.

Further investigations unveiled that the stolen funds were used for various purposes, including property purchases, vehicle acquisitions, and rentals. The case remains under investigation.