Crime & Punishment of Friday, 27 November 2015

Source: GNA

One of Chairman Adams' alleged killers freed

One of the persons to stand trial for the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Adams Mahama, has been discharged by a Magistrate Court in Accra.

The discharge of Issah Musah was prompted by a legal advice from the Attorney General which was submitted to the Court on Thursday by the prosecution which prayed the court that the accused person be discharged.

No reasons were given. The court presided over by Mr Wolanyo Kotoku then went ahead to free Issah, who was put before court with others including Gregory Afoko, a relative of the estranged National Chairman of the NPP, Paul Afoko.

Issah, according to the prosecution, was said to have bought the acid used for attacking the late Adams Mahama. Meanwhile, the court has directed the prosecution to make sure that an accomplice in the case, one Asala Alande, now at large, is arrested for the trial to begin.

Counsel for Gregory, Israel Ackah was not happy the trial has not started and wondered what the prosecution was waiting for, especially so, when the AG’s report on the case has been ready as of November 19.

However, Superintendent Francis Baah, prosecutor in the case, told the court that the process was a little challenging, but prayed the court that it was ready to start trial on the next adjourned date, which has been pushed to December 9.

Afoko has been charged with murder, his accomplice, Musah, was held for abetment of crime. Their pleas have not yet been taken by the court.

On July 10, the Magistrate Court admitted Issah to bail in the sum of GH¢ 20,000 with four sureties. He was made to report to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service before noon from Monday to Thursday

In the case of Afoko, an Accra High Court refused him bail, on grounds that there have not been any unreasonable delay in the matter, and that the facts and charges were properly laid and also connects Afoko to the crime.

In May, Adams Mahama, a former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, was attacked with acid while he was on his way home. He later died in the hospital. 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.”

The Police said they later located the house of the second person, but the suspect, having gotten wind of their presence, 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,” the Police stated.

The Police said: “a post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of Adam and the pathologist gave the cause of the death as shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.”