Shatta Wale
There was heated argument at an Accra Circuit Court yesterday over the mobile phones belonging to controversial dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, aka Shatta Wale, and three of his boys who are on trial after the musician staged that he had been shot.
The police as part of their investigations into the shooting prank staged by Shatta Wale and his boys confiscated their phones and were yet to release them to the accused persons.
Shatta Wale has been granted a self-recognisance bail of GH¢100,000 by the court whilst his accomplices namely Kojo Owusu Koranteng, also known as Nana Dope, his special assistant; Eric Venator, alias Gangee, who is a graphic designer; and Iddrisu Yussif aka Deportee, who was arrested later after the musician and the first two aides were detained, were all granted GH¢100,000 each with one surety each who must be public servant.
Shatta Wale has been charged with one count of publication of false news while his boys were charged with one count of abetment of publication of false news.
It was a pastor, Stephen Akwasi Appiah, aka Jesus Ahuofe, the founder and leader of New Life Kingdom Chapel International, who gave the death prophecy about Shatta Wale, triggering the widely-condemned prank.
Lawyer’s Argument
Their lawyer, Henry Avenorgo, appearing before the court presided over by His Honour Emmanuel Essandor made an application for the phones to be released to Shatta Wale and his boys.
He told the court that the mobile phones are the sources of livelihood for the accused persons and they needed them to survive.
“When they were arrested some items were confiscated from them including mobile phones. Till date those mobile phones have not been released to them. We pray that this court orders that the phones be released so that they can use it because most of them depend on these phones for survival.” Mr. Avenorgbo pleaded with the court.
Opposition
The application was opposed by the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpetey who told the court that they were holding the phones for investigation purposes.
He said they intend to access the phones of the accused persons to aid their investigations but are yet to obtain a court order which will enable them to do so.
He, therefore, prayed the court to give them time, adding that once they access the phones they will release them to the accused persons.
When asked by His Honour Essandor, as to what exactly they are looking for on the phones, the prosecutor said the phones were used for the false publication for which the accused persons are standing trial.
“We do not need the phones for anything. We will probably come before you with an application and the application will direct the court as to what we are looking for. Investigations are ongoing that is why we will come ex-parte,” Chief Inspector Terkpetey explained.
He said there are ‘material things’ on the phones that they need to access for their investigations.
Counsel for the accused persons however, objected to the explanation and argued that the publication was made on social media and wondered what else the police are looking for on the phones when they can grab the video from social media.
“Depriving these people of these phones which are their source of livelihood is like you telling them to go and die,” counsel added.
Ruling
His Honour Emmanuel Essandor, in his ruling held that it is not the work of the defence to help the prosecution to do their case, stating that “after all, the accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.”
He said the alleged offences were made on social media and, therefore, ordered the prosecution to release the phones to the accused persons.
New Lead
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Terkpetey has indicted that they are chasing a new lead in the matter.
He said one of the suspects is still at large and the charges as well as the facts of the matter may change when he is arrested.
He, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment and the court adjourned the case to December 7, 2021.
Medikal Case
In the same court the case of Shatta Wale’s friend, top musician Samuel Adu Frimpong, known in showbiz circles as Medikal, who was detained for illegally brandishing a gun and granted bail later was also adjourned to December 7.
Medikal was arrested on Thursday, October 21, after a video in which he was seen displaying a pistol went viral on social media platform Snapchat, compelling the police to go after him, detain and charge him for court.
He was charged with one count of displaying arms and ammunition in public place contrary to Section 7(1) and 26(1) of the Arms and Ammunitions Act, 1972, NRCD 9, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Court papers indicated that the accused person “in the month of September whilst in his car without any reasonable excuse displayed a Ruger 9mm pistol and posted the video on his Snapchat social media platform.”
The document further stated that Medikal admitted to the offence in his investigation caution statement upon his arrest.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak