High Court to rule on Afoko’s bail Application

An Accra High Court will on August 18, rule on a bail application put in by Gregory Afoko, one of the suspects, accused of pouring acid on the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Adams Mahama.

At the court presided over by Mr Justice K.A.Okwabi, defence counsel, Mr Ekow Ampah Korsah moved and argued his application for bail.

The state represented by Mr Matthew Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, however, was opposed to the grant of bail to Afoko, who is being held on the charge of murder.

Arguing his case, Mr Korsah lamented his inability to get access to his client, who is currently being kept at the East Legon Police Station.

Mr Korsah, who filed an affidavit in support of his case, said he found it strange that prosecution was contending that there had not been an unreasonable delay in the matter.

According to him, Gregory had been in Police custody since May 21, this year, and wondered when prosecution would conclude its investigation into the matter.

He said the Court had jurisdiction to grant bail to his client, adding that, since the commencement of the matter, they anticipated delay in the trial.

Mr Korsah said Gregory had no means to interfere with investigations and he (Gregory) would be present to stand trial if granted bail.

Mr Amponsah vehemently opposed the bail application saying it was “premature.”

According to Mr Amponsah, there had not been any delay in the matter, saying that, two and half months could not be classified as an undue delay in the criminal matter and that the Defence counsel was only being speculative when he asserted that there had been an undue delay.

He said the clothes of the accused person currently in the custody of the Police had been sent to the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) for examination.

He said a report produced by the GSA indicates that the burns on the base of Gregory’s trousers were consistent with acid burns.

This, he said, established a clear nexus between the accused person and the incident.

According to the Chief State Attorney, the Police was aware of the high public interest in the matter, as such, they were leaving no stone unturned in their investigations.

He said if Gregory was granted bail, he would interfere with investigation and as such he should not be granted bail.

Gregory had gone to the High court to seek for bail following a ruling by an Accra Magistrates’ Court that denied him bail because he was facing a charge of murder.

Musah Issah, Afoko’s accomplice, is being held for abetment of crime. Afoko and Issah’s pleas have not been taken.

On July 10, a Magistrates’ Court in Accra admitted Issah to bail.

The Magistrates’ Court presided over by Mr Worlanyo Kotoku admitted Issah to bail of GH¢20,000.00 with four sureties.

He is to report to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service before noon from Monday to Thursday until the case is concluded.

The family of Mr Mahama has also filed a motion at the High Court to quash the decision by an Accra Magistrates’ Court to grant bail to Issah.

According to the family, the Magistrate Court had no jurisdiction to grant Musah bail hence its decision should be quashed.

Meanwhile, the case before the Magistrate Court had also been adjourned to August 18.

Mr Mahama was in May attacked with acid on his way home and later died in hospital.

He reportedly named some of the persons who attacked him.

According to the Police, Afoko after his arrest, was asked to lead the Police to the house of his accomplice, Asabke Alangdi, but “he rather took them to the father’s house.”

The Police said they later located the house of the second person but the suspect had gotten wind of their presence and had absconded with his wife, leaving behind their baby.

A gallon, which allegedly contained some of the substance, and a plastic cup, were retrieved from the scene for forensic examination,” the Police stated.

The Police said: a “post mortem examination was conducted on the body of the deceased and the Pathologist gave the cause of the death as shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.”

Issah was arrested for allegedly buying the acid used for the attack.

Source: GNA