No bail for suspects in Anloga clashes

Ho, Nov. 5, GNA - Seven persons believed to have incriminating pieces of evidence against them in the recent clashes at Anloga were on Monday remanded by a magistrate's court in Ho.

They are Francis Adzra, Yaw Agbemakor, Kpodo Prince Wisdom, Kwaw Galley, Atsu Afedo, Aaron Agbota and John Kuwornu Seforga. The seven who were charged with rioting with weapons and murder of Police Constable Moses Deba will re-appear on November 22. Their plea was not taken.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Glabu told the court presided over by Mr David P W Amedior that on November 1, this year, a group of people calling themselves Anlo Youth, including all the accused wearing red bands gathered at the forecourt of a shrine at Anloga amidst drumming and singing of war songs. He said the refusal of the group to allow elders of Togbe Sri III to perform some rituals resulted into a clash, which claimed three lives.

ASP Glabu said during the clash, the accused persons including others on the run chased and threw stones at the policemen who were on duty there injuring five of them and kidnapped Constable Deba whose body was later found in the Keta Lagoon without his uniform and AK47 rifle. He said investigations led to the arrest of the seven persons. Mr Ernest Gaewu, a counsel for the accused persons prayed the court to grant bail to the accused persons because they were only suspects and were not connected with the murder of the Police Constable. Mr Gaewu stated that the accused persons were innocent passers-by who like others were arrested at sight by the police for questioning. Mr Alfred Agbesi, another defence counsel wondered why the Police were armed with live bullets instead of rubber bullets to control a riot.

He invited the Court to review the murder charge and grant the accused persons bail to reduce tension at Anloga, saying the more the accused persons remained in custody, the more heightened the tension there would be.