Thirteen-year-old murder case re-activated

Sekondi, Feb. 13, GNA - The Attorney General's Department has re-activated a 13-year-old case involving the murder of Apowahene, Nana Amua Gyebu XIV at Apowa near Takoradi in September 1995.

Re-activating the case at a Sekondi High Court on Tuesday Madam Patience Klinogo, a Principal State Attorney, said the re-activation of the case was after a petition to the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police and a directive by the Minster of Justice and Attorney General.

She told the court chaired by Justice Clemence J. Honyenugah that the Attorney General was ready to commence legal proceedings and that four of the suspects had been arrested on January 17 for their roles in the murder of the chief.

Madam Klinogo said 40 persons were initially arrested 13 years ago but some were granted bail while others faced prosecution. She said efforts were being made to re-arrest them for the trial to begin.

They are Isaac Taye, Steven Tandoh, James Yalley and Kwamena Badu. Their pleas have not been taken and have been remanded in Prison custody.

The four, represented by Mr. Steven Ocran, a Takoradi based legal practitioner who applied for bail for the suspects, said the move by the Attorney General was not in respect of the murder of the chief but because the four had refused to allow the present chief, Nana Amua Gyebu XV, to sell both stool and family lands in the Apowa area. "These people have lived at Apowa during and after the murder of the chief and have still not abandoned the town and were part of the installation process of Nana Amua Gyebu." Mr Justice Honyenugah said the Attorney General's Department should satisfy the court about efforts it was making to arrest the other suspects. "We must not allow the suspects to suffer an abuse of their human rights," he said. The case has been adjourned to February 18.