Court orders police to provide bill of indictment on Rokko's murder

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The Osu District Magistrate's Court on Friday ordered the police to furnish it with bill of indictment and summary of evidence on the five soldiers allegedly connected to the murder of a Commercial Bank official (GCB).

They are also to provide the court with the results of forensic examination of the bullets used on the deceased, Mr. Rokko Frimpong, Depu= ty Managing Director of GCB. The court presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Bart-Brew Plange, gave the order when the accused persons appeared before the court for the second time.

They are Sergeant Michael Arthur, Sergeant Richard Somuah, Sergeant Lamptey Hazel, Corporal Charles Ankumah and Corporal Emmanuel Antwi. Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Patrick A. Morkeh told the court on Friday that the police had found the bullets used on th= e deceased and had forwarded them to the Police Forensic Laboratory. Mr. Joe Aboagye-Debrah, one of the counsels for the accused persons said=

they were in a legal limbo because apart from their charges being read, their pleas had not been taken. He noted that no bill of indictment or summary evidence had been prepare= d on the case. Counsel said they were aware of another docket with the Attorney General= 's Department and prayed the court to put an obligation on the prosecution t= o define the case properly.

"We all have the responsibility of ensuring that trial of the accused persons was expedited. Prosecution should be given time frame to work and=

complete their investigations". "The situation is distressing for the accused persons," he told the cour= t. The court which is yet to take their pleas, remanded them into poli= ce custody to re-appear on February 4.

On December 15, 2009 the five soldiers were discharged by the Human Righ= ts Court, but were re-arrested and put before a lower court on charges of conspiracy and murder three days later. Prosecution alleged that the accused persons were instructed by the= ir officers to eliminate Mr. Frimpong who had uncovered rot involving some government officials.

It said if the deceased was not eliminated those government officials wo= uld be in trouble, as a result the accused held several meetings and eventual= ly carried out their operation.

The prosecution said for their reward, the accused were allegedly given between GH¢5,000 and GH¢15,000. It said four of the accused persons had admitted taking the money but di= d not participate in the murder of the deceased while the remaining one den= ied taking it.