Thirty suspected Suhum rioters remanded in custody

Koforidua, Jan. 18, GNA- A Koforidua Circuit Court, on Thursday, remanded 30 persons, including two women suspected to have been involved in the Wednesday unrest at Suhum in the Eastern Region in custody to re-appear on January 24, 2007.

Two others, Peter Blessing Agorbortu and Benjamin Owusu, who are tutors at the Suhum-Secondary Technical School were granted bail in the sum of 20 million cedis each.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Charles Nicholas Agbevor, gave the order after hearing the arguments of both the prosecution and the lawyers for the suspects.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) T.K. Nyadu, had prayed the court to remand the suspects in custody to give the Police ample time to screen and prosecute culprits as well as ensure that there are no further breaches of the peace at Suhum.

He told the court that the 32 persons were part of some 500 youth who had blocked all major routes leading to and out of the Suhum township on Wednesday, barricading the route with tree stumps, trunks and other objects apparently in protest of the death of five persons in the town since November last year.

According to ASP Nyadu, for two hours, the irate mob had blocked routes leading from Suhum to Kumasi, Asamankese, Nsawam and Koforidua and at a point, the Suhum Police Station came under attack and distress calls were sent by the Suhum Police to other Police stations for support.

He said upon the receipt of the call, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Felix Asare Darko led a detachment to Suhum and they also came under serious attack leading to damages being caused to two Police vehicles.

ASP Nyadu said the suspects also attempted seizing the rifles of the Police.

A counsel for the suspects, Mr Mensah Okpoti, submitted that though he does not support violent acts, it was nonetheless incumbent on the Police to make an unbiased investigations into the case since his clients were not part of the mob.

In taking his decision, the Presiding Judge said the court was being sensitive to national issues, which go beyond the charge of accused persons.

He however, asked the Police to deal expeditiously with the investigations so that those not implicated could be freed. Following the intervention of a delegation of Suhum Secondary Technical School led by the Assistant Headmaster of the School, Mr Isaac Ason, two of the suspects, who were identified to be teachers of the school were released on bail.