AIsha Huang
A Senior State Attorney, Mercy Arthur, has asked an Accra high court to consider withdrawing the bail granted to Aisha Huang, the Chinese lady and four others standing trial over alleged illegal mining (galamsey).
According to her, since they were granted bail by the court, the five accused persons appear to be having difficulties in taking care of themselves as they had been attending hospital on many occasions, thereby disrupting the trial.
This was after lawyer for the accused, Captain Nkrabea Effah Dartey (rtd), had told the court that one of the accused, Lu Qi Jun, reportedly fell from a moving vehicle in Kumasi and had been taken to the hospital.
According to him, the accused person was still on admission and that it was not clear when he would be discharged and therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him to be in court.
The prosecutor however, expressed great disappointment at the turn of events, saying her witnesses had travelled from far, with one coming from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
She stated that yesterday was the third time the case had to be adjourned because one of the accused persons was not available.
She prayed the court that if the accused persons could not take care of themselves whiles they have been granted bail, then it would better for the court to rescind the decision and rather remand them as they would be safer whiles in custody.
This, she noted, wouold ensure that the accused are present in court at all times to ensure a judicious trial.
The trial judge, Justice Charles Ekow Baiden, who could not fathom the explanation given by the defence lawyer, wondered how a person could fall out of a moving vehicle, unless he was sitting on top of it.
He then called the interpreter to explain to the other four accused persons the ramification of missing the trial and what the prosecution was seeking the court to do.
Asked how the accident occurred, Aisha changed the narrative, saying the accused rather fell from a motorbike he was riding.
Captain (rtd) Efah Dartey then prayed the court to allow the accused persons to remain on their bail bond, saying he would talk to them and explain to them the dangers of absenting themselves from the trial.
Meanwhile, the presiding judge has asked the prosecution to get itsr witnesses ready by the next adjourned date.
The case has been adjourned to May 10, 2018.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak