COURT REMANDS 48 RIOTERS

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 22 Jan. '98

Forty Eight people suspected to have taken part in last Friday's rioting at Wenchi in which four people died, were yesterday arraigned at a high court at Sunyani. Their pleas were not taken and they were remanded in prison custody until January 27. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Paul K. Gyaesaayor said because of the situation at Wenchi it would not be safe to grant any of he suspects bail. Their detention will also give the prosecution ample time to continue with their investigations, he said. Mr. Matthew Amponsah of he Attorney-General's department had told the court that on Friday January, 16 the Tijaniya Muslim sect attacked their Al-Suna counterparts at Wenchi Muslim cemetery to prevent them from burying a dead member. This resulted in the death of four people believed to be members of the Al-Suna while a saloon car and ten houses all belonging to some members of Al-Suna were burnt. Mr. Amponsah said investigations led to the arrest of he suspects, and pleaded for their remand to enable the police conduct thorough investigations. The court ordered a representative of the legal aid board to produce the birth certificates of two of the suspects whom the board claimed to be minors and therefore should be granted bail. They are Shandando Dagarti and Kwame Manta Felix who are said to be 17 years old. Meanwhile, 27 other suspects in the riot being held at the Berekum police station will soon be put before the court, a police source told newsmen.