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General News of Monday, 26 August 2002

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Tribunal Adjourns Victor Smith's Case

An Accra Circuit Tribunal trying an aide of Former President Rawlings, Victor Emmanuel Smith for threat of death on Monday adjourned the case to Friday, August 30.

This was after a Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Gyambiby had informed the court that he has received a letter from Smith's Counsel, Dr. Ben Kumbour, that he had a severe fever and has to see a doctor on Wednesday. He therefore, asked for an adjournment till August 30, which the tribunal, chaired by Mr Imoru Ziblim obliged.

At the last sitting, defence counsel began cross-examining Detective Inspector George Boakye Yiadom, the investigator in-charge of the case. Smith, has been charged for allegedly issuing threats to Mr Kweku Baako Junior, Editor of the Crusading Guide and Mrs Margaret Amoakohene, a lecturer of the School of Communication Studies, Legon. He has pleaded not guilty and is on a 50 million cedi bail.

Earlier, the court was told that on March 18, the accused and Mr Abrampah Kwasi Mensah wrote a letter to be handed over to Mr Baako and Mrs Amoakohene that they would not sit down unconcerned over their criticisms of the former President. He said the accused also warned that if the victims failed to stop their criticisms after receiving the letters, members of the Action Forum would be given pickup vehicles to track down and crash them.

The Prosecutor said the accused stated that should these steps to silence the two fail, they would devise other means to kill them.