The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, has been released by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after meeting his bail conditions set at GH¢50 million.
His release comes after his legal team withdrew an application filed at the High Court seeking to vary the bail conditions, which the suspect was initially unable to meet.
Currently, party supporters who had continued their daily presence at the EOCO premises jubilated as Wontumi exited the compound with his lawyer, following more than 48 hours in custody, exceeding the constitutional limit.
The delay in his release was partly due to a legal application filed by his lawyer, Gary Nimako, coinciding with NPP flagbearer hopeful Bryan Acheampong stepping in as a second surety. This development ultimately led to the truncation of his release on Friday.
Reports indicate that the application to review the bail conditions was filed without the consent of the suspect.
Attempts by former President Mahamudu Bawumia and former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong to serve as sureties had earlier failed. However, the second surety requirement was finally fulfilled on Friday.
Wontumi’s detention sparked protests from supporters, with the Minority Caucus in Parliament walking out of the chamber to stage a sit-down in solidarity with the Ashanti Regional Chairman on Thursday, May 29.
He is currently under investigation for alleged offences including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, confirmed in a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account that EOCO is handling the matter.
He added that asset recovery efforts are underway to retrieve suspected proceeds of crrime