The Economic and Financial Division I of the Accra High has threatened to sanction Anthony Lartey, one of the counsels in a coup plot trial, for misconduct.

The court presided over by three justices – Afia Serwah Asare-Botwi, Hafisata Amalebob and Stephen Oppong – said it would apply Regulation 89 of the Professional etiquette rule against Mr Lartey.

Mr Lartey has incurred the wrath of the court after failing to conduct his case on behalf of Johannes Zikpi, fourth accused (A4) in the trial on two consecutive times.

Thus, Mr Lartey on two occasions failed to cross examine the 13th prosecution witness (PW13), Detective Chief Inspector Michael Nkrumah, an officer with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) who investigated the case.

On the first failed instance, Mr Lartey was to take his turn to cross examine the witness on Monday, June 12, 2022, but the court directed that he utilised 30 minutes out of his one hour allocated time.

Mr Lartey, who was expected to use the other half of his time on Tuesday, pleaded with the court to schedule it to wednesday, in order for him to deal with some official matters.

According to him, his office would be receiving the family members of late Richard Badombie, a colleague lawyer who was shot by armed men on the Bole-Bamboi highway in the Savannah Region.

He urged the court to excuse him to perform off legal duty at the expense of Zikpi, hence he would like to conduct his case on Wednesday using one full hour.

This was after Victor Kwadjogah Adawudu, counsel for five of the 10 accused persons had finished cross examining the witness.

Unfortunately, Mr Lartey was no where to be found on the wet Wednesday, thereby infuriating the Lords.

When the president of the penal enquired the whereabout of Mr Lartey, Mr Adawudu responded that “He is not here today. He placed a message on our platform that the rain has caused havoc at his residence so he would not be able to make it.”

The court, therefore, said: “Mr Lartey was to commence his cross examination on Monday but he said he will take 1 hour turn today. He and Mr Dzotsi were to conduct their cross examination for the witness to be discharged. When asked if there was any evidence in the form of videos or pictures to show that the flood had affected him. [Mr Adawudu responded in the negative]. For this reason the case will continue as scheduled. A4 is to conduct his own cross examination. He should to be given one pen and paper to take notes.”

The court asked Kormivi Dotsi who held Martin Kpebu’s brief to take his turn instead after which Zikpi.

Two hours after Mr Dotsi had completed the cross examination, the court ordered Zikpi to conduct examine the witness himself.

But the embattled suspended civilian employee at the Signal regiment of the Ghana Armed Force said: “It will be difficult for me to do the cross examination that was why I took a lawyer. I am pleading that you give me time so that I contact any of the Lawyers to do that for me.”

The court after consideration of the plea order ” Mr Lartey that before we became h judges we were lawyers. This kind of manoeuvring, we have seen it before. The 89 of professional etiquette rule against him. If does not come on Monday or send anybody to hold his brief, we will consider the case closed.”

The court is trying 10 persona including senior police and military officers on treason, abetment and conspiracy charges.