The police appear to be gasping for breath as they await the Attorney General’s advice on the dockets of two of the suspects in the Kwabenya cell breaking case, which is before an Accra circuit court.
Prince Osei aka Bebe and Prince Kofi Acheampong aka Nana Owuo, are among 12 suspects who have been put before the court for allegedly attacking the Kwabenya police station to free seven inmates from cells and killing Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi in the process.
They were arraigned before the court on January 30, 2018 but the prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police Kwaku Bempah, told the court that the state is so far not pursuing the charges of possessing firearm and abetment of possessing firearms proffered against the two.
According to him, the prosecution was waiting for the AG’s advice on the way forward. That fiat has since not come from the AG’s office and the prosecution seems to be biting the finger nails as defence lawyers keep pressing for bail for their clients as a result of the delay.
Before the court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh, Superintendent Bempah said yesterday that the prosecution had still not received any directives from the AG’s office.
He said the two were being charged for possessing firearms without lawful authority contrary to Section 192 (1) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 29/60 and that the police do not have the authority to prosecute the case without the AG’s advice.
He therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the matter, hoping that the advice would be ready by the next sitting.
Dela Blagodzi, lawyer for Elvis Owusu and Theophilus Bandah, who was not impressed by the prosecutor’s explanation, claimed that the prosecution had not shown any seriousness as far as the case is concerned.
He therefore, raised concern that it was important for the court to grant his clients bail as they wait for the trial to begin.
Mr Blagodzi was however, interrupted by the judge who indicated that he would not talk about issues concerning bail again as he had officially dealt with it.
He subsequently adjourned the case to March 15, 2018 and urged the prosecution to put its house in order.
A group of six armed men raided the police station on January 21, 2018 at about 1:30 am to free seven inmates – Chibuzor Akwuba, Emmanuel Kotey, Rockson Edem Dzidegbe, Dickson Ofori, Prince Osei, Atta Kwadzo and Kofi Darko – from cells, killing Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi in the process.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak