Benlord Ababio
Another suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of a soldier at Millennium City, Kasoa in the Central Region.
The suspect, Nana Kofi Amo, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and was yesterday hauled before court alongside Benlord Ababio aka Nana Barima Ababio, a self-acclaimed traditional ruler who allegedly shot and killed the soldier on April 30, 2024.
Ababio allegedly shot the late soldier who had gone to the Millennium City Police Station to report an incident of trespassing on a half plot of land which is a subject of litigation.
The plea of the two has been reserved by the court presided over by His Worship Prince Owusu, who remanded them for two weeks following a request by the police for the suspects to be remanded for further investigation.
The court yesterday denied bail applications by counsels for the accused persons after holding that it does not have jurisdiction to grant them bail.
Nashiru Yussif, counsel for Ababio, in his repeat application for bail said the accused is not a flight risk and has substantial people willing to stand as sureties for him.
He also assured the court that the accused will not interfere with investigations, indicating that the prosecution will bear witness that since his arrest he has not done anything to suggest he will jump bail or interfere.
ACP Baffour Apenteng Nyamekye (Rtd.), counselor for Nana Kofi Amo, associated himself with his fellow counsel and said his client is a victim of circumstances and prayed the court to grant him bail.
The prosecution led by ASP Lawrence Anane opposed the applications for bail, arguing that the court is under obligation to refuse the grant of bail if it is convinced the accused persons would interfere with investigations.
He said the two have been charged with first degree offences and the prosecution is ready to prove they are guilty at trial.
He, therefore, urged the court to remand the two, adding that their lives are in danger should they be granted bail.
The court after hearing both the prosecution and defence remanded the accused persons, holding that it did not have jurisdiction to grant bail in murder cases.
The case was adjourned to May 30, 2024.
The prosecution’s brief fact indicates that the deceased, Lance Corporal Michael Danso, was a military officer stationed at the Army Base Workshop at Burma Camp.
It states that on April 30, 2024, at about 4pm, the deceased Lance Corporal Michael Danso together with his two colleagues – Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman and Lance Corporal Ametus Matthew went to Millennium City Police Station on board a Toyota RAV4 with registration number 3591-24 to report a case of trespass.
It said this was upon information that some encroachers were developing a parcel of land belonging to Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman.
The fact said the accused appeared at the police station, attacked, and opened fire severally on Lance Corporal Michael Danso, who was in charge of the steering wheel of the Toyota RAV 4×4 vehicle, killing him instantly.
It added that the accused was immediately disarmed and arrested, and was subsequently arraigned for the court to remand him pending further investigations.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak