The late Dr. Frederick MacPalm
An Accra High Court has demanded a medical certificate on the late Dr. Frederick MacPalm, a medical doctor who was alleged to be the mastermind of a plot to overthrow government in a coup.
The deceased, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Citadel Hospital in Accra, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Dodowa Hospital.
He had earlier collapsed at his private home on the same day and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Maud Opoku, a private legal practitioner yesterday informed the court that the family of the deceased had informed the legal team that the accused had “passed on to glory.”
She, however, told the court that she did not have any medical certificate to prove same but indicated that the family said they could provide one in two weeks.
The court then asked the prosecution whether they have been able to procure any proof and Winifred Sarpong, a Principal State Attorney indicated that officials of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) were at the hospital to verify that the accused had passed on.
“We asked them to procure some form of evidence and they are taking steps,” she added.
The court, presided over by Justices Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, Stephen Oppong and Hafisata Amaleboba, all Justices of the Court of Appeal sitting as additional High Court Justices, gave the prosecution up to Wednesday, March 29, 2023, to procure the death certificate on the deceased.
Dr. MacPalm was standing trial together with nine others, including senior military and police officers, junior military officers and civilians for high treason, conspiracy and abetment of high treason.
He opened his defence on February 21, 2023, and denied the allegations levelled against him by the prosecution.
He was subsequently cross-examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa as well as counsels for the other accused persons, except Bright Alan Debrah, who was having issues with legal representation.
Allegations
The accused persons are said to have held discussions on whether or not to kill the President once their alleged coup plot succeeds.
They are also alleged to have planned to acquire electronic equipment solely for the purpose of jamming the National Communications Authority’s system to render all broadcasting stations except the state broadcaster useless.
Beyond the killing plot, the prosecution alleges that the accused persons had discussions towards capturing top public officials.
Again, the accused are said to have procured weapons and test-fired same and contracted persons to manufacture grenades, pistols among other dangerous weapons.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak