High Court defers ruling on bail application of Omanhene

Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem II, Omanhene of Acherensua, who is being held in prison custody on a murder charge was again refused bail when the case came up for hearing at a Sunyani High Court on Wednesday.

The court deferred its decision to either uphold and reject his application till next Wednesday May 9.

Nana Ampem, who is also Chairman of the Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, is being tried for shooting one Nii Ato Quaye, who was among a group of youth who attacked him at his house at Acherensua on April 17.

Mr. Justice Paul Kwadwo Gyaesayor, Supervising High Court Judge, explained that he needed time to study defence counsel's arguments before he could give his ruling.

Mr. Otu-Essel Kwadwo Fordjour, Counsel for the accused submitted that the continued detention of his client in prison custody is a violation and an infringement on his human rights.

He said his client acted in self-defence and should, therefore, be granted bail since the facts do not support a murder charge.

Counsel argued that the Omanhene has not as yet been formally charged and since the criminal assizes would end in July it was not likely that the case would be heard this or next year, if even he is going to be charged.

He said, "the law that says that bail will not be granted in murder cases, is subject to certain circumstances and peculiar situations and, therefore, it does not completely oust the jurisdiction of the court to grant bail".

Responding to defence counsel's submission, Mr. Betuuriseeh Cab-Bayuo, Chief State Attorney said the decision was at the discretion of the court.

He said he had not yet received the docket of the case to enable him to prefer any charge since the investigator is yet to complete his work.