Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Source: GNA

Court to rule on Afoko, Issah bail application

A Magistrate Court in Accra on Tuesday fixed July 7 to rule on a bail application put in by two persons allegedly linked to the murder of Mr Adam Mahama.

The late Mr Adam was the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Regional Chairman.

This follows a repeated bail application put in by Gregory Afoko and Musah Issah’s lawyers after lamenting over their continuous detention in custody.

Afoko has been charged with murder, while Issah is being held for abetment of crime. Their pleas have not been taken and are on remand.

Superintendent of Police Francis Baah, the Prosecutor told the Court that the police have gone far with the investigations as such they could send the case docket to the Attorney General Department for further action.

Defence Counsel, Mr Alfred Agyei-Mensah who represented Issah prayed the Court to consider a bail application put in for client.

According to him, his client should be admitted to bail pending the determination of the case.

He said his client would be available by request from the Police to assist investigations.

Mr Agyei-Mensah said Issah is facing a charge of abatement of crime and under that charge, his client could be admitted to bail.

Mr Ekow Ampah Korsah, another Defence Council reminded the Court that June 23, marked the fourth time that the accused persons have been arraigned and anytime the prosecution would pray the Court to remand them into custody.

According to him prosecutions action constitute a breach of fundamental human rights noting that the Police are hiding behind the Court to perpetuate an illegality.

Superintendent of Police Baah did not take kindly to the use of illegality stressing that the use of illegality by Defence Counsel should be substituted with the right word.

According to him, at the appropriate time the Police would bring the bill of indictment and summary of evidence before the Court so that the accused persons could be convicted for trial at the High Court.

“The Police needs to do a better job in respect of investigations into the case,” he added.

The Court presided over by Mr Worlanyo Kotoku adjourned the matter to July 7, for ruling.

Mr Mahama was attacked with acid on his way home and later died in the hospital in May.

He reportedly named some of the persons who attacked him.

According to the Police, Afoko after his arrest was asked to lead the Police to the house of his accomplice, Asabke Alangdi but “he rather took them to the father’s house.

Police later located the house of the second but the suspect had got wind of their presence and absconded with his wife leaving behind their baby.

A gallon, which allegedly contained some of the substance and a plastic cup, were retrieved from the scene for forensic examination,” Police added.

The Police has disclosed that a “post mortem examination was conducted on the body of the deceased and the Pathologist gave the cause of the death as shock lungs and extensive acid burns.”

Musah Issah was arrested for allegedly buying the acid that was used for the attack.