Ollennu J.A.. Delivered the judgment of himself and of Azu Crabbe J.A. and Edusei J. The appellants were tried by Akainyah J.S.C. in the High Court, Accra, with the aid of assessors. The indictment contained ten counts; it charged all the appellants with one count of conspiracy to commit the crime of corruption by a public officer; two counts of defrauding by false pretences; and one count of conspiracy to defraud. It charged the second and third appellants with two counts of falsification of accounts. It charged the first and second appellants with one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of defrauding. It also charged the second appellant alone with one count of falsification of accounts and one count of corruption of a public officer.
The trial began on 23 September 1964, and continued from day to day except for one or two short breaks for a few days, and was concluded on 10 May 1965, in all 112 days. The summing-up to the assessors lasted three full days, the notes thereof …