Court threatens to free suspected arsonists if...

Prosecutors in the case in which the state is holding two persons suspected of arson Wednesday failed to produce the suspects in court for the second time.

This is in spite of an order by the Presiding Judge, Mr. Francis Obiri, at the last sitting on July 10, 2013, to the prosecutors to finish their investigations and bring the suspects to court today, July 17.

When the case was called today, the prosecutors said although they had completed their investigations they could not produce the suspects in court because the investigator was attending an important meeting.

According to Joy News' Anny Osabutey, who was in court, Counsel for the suspected arsonists, Mr. Carlos Adongo, argued that his clients had been held for far too long and should be granted bail.

The circuit court judge said although he could grant the bail request, he would give the prosecutors one last chance to produce the suspects at the next adjourned sitting on July 23, 2013.

He said failure to comply the court's directive would force him to strike out the case.

Yakubu Tahiru, 28, and Fatau Ibrahim, 22, have been dragged before the court for their alleged involvement in the burning of the Kantamanto and Agbogbloshie markets in Accra.

The court has since their arrest refused them bail at the request of investigators.