An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh, has refused to grant a bail application filed on behalf of five accused persons who allegedly attacked the Kwabenya Police Station and freed their colleagues who were in custody.
According to the court, it would not grant them bail at this stage of the case but would call for a “speedy and realistic trial” to commence.
On February 13, their lawyers applied for bail while the trial commenced, stating that their clients would avail themselves for the trial.
The prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police Kwaku Bemah, objected to the granting of bail to Nancy Dentah, Elvis Owusu, Theophilus Bandaa, George Yeboah aka Akwesi Shower and Prince Kofi.
According to him, the incident had generated a lot of public attention and emotions and for the sake of the accused, they should be kept in custody while the trial commences.
He added that the suspects would not avail themselves to face trial, should they be granted bail.
Refusing to grant the bail, the judge stated that the accused persons are alleged to have rescued others or escaped from lawful custody, and the court ought to be certain whether or not when granted bail they would appear for the trial.
“I have weighed the circumstances of the case as well as the need for the accused persons to have a fair trial; and I hold the view that bail must be refused at this stage and rather a speedy trial to commence,” Mr Tandoh held.
He, therefore, urged the prosecution to get its witnesses ready for the trial to commence on March 9, 2018.
Already, Prince Osei aka Bebe and Atta Kwadzo, who were among seven cell mates who were set free by a gang of six armed men who stormed the police station, killing Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi in the process, have each been sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment by the court.
The two pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit: escape from lawful custody, and escape from lawful custody, and were convicted on their own pleas.
Bail Application
Bernard Owiredu, lawyer for Nancy Dentaa – who is accused of passing on a mobile phone to the suspects whiles in police cells – moving the application for bail for his client, stated that the accused is a single mother taking care of her six-year-old son and has relatives who are willing to stand in as sureties for her.
He added that there would be no way she would risk deciding to run away rather than coming to face trial.
Lawyer for Elvis Owusu and Theophilus Bandah also prayed the court to admit his clients to bail, saying they are all gainfully employed.
Lawyers for George Yeboah aka Akwesi Shower, as well as Prince Kofi Acheampong and Edward Lartey also prayed the court to grant their clients bail.
Background
A group of six armed men raided the Kwabenya police station on January 21, 2018 at about 1:30 am to free seven inmates from cells, killing Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi in the process.
They then took the keys to the cells and released seven inmates – Chibuzor Akwuba, Emmanuel Kotey, Rockson Edem Dzidegbe, Dickson Ofori, Prince Osei, Atta Kwadzo and Kofi Darko.
Twelve persons have since been arrested in connection with the attack and have been put before the court.
By Gibril Abdul Razak