Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 31 October 2019

Source: starrfm.com.gh

‘Canadian kidnappers’ accuse police of pocketing their money

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The four accused persons who have been charged for kidnapping two Canadian nationals have accused the investigator in the case of hoarding their pocket money.

The accused persons through their lawyer Yaw Dankwah asked the court to issue an order for their money to be released to them.

This was after Sampson Agharlor, the main accused person, said out of his GHc890 that is with the investigator, only GHc250 has been released to him.

Another accused person, Elvis Ojiyorwe, also raised similar concerns but the court was reluctant to give the order.

This was because the investigator in the matter was not present in court when the matter was called. The court said it could not grant such an order unless it hears from the investigator.

NEW JUDGE TO TAKE OVER

The sitting judge at the Criminal Division of the Accra High Cour Justice George Buadi has said his mandate as the trial judge ends on November 29, 2019.

He said he will not be the judge to deal with the trial but deems it prudent to direct the prosecution to disclose to the accused persons all documents they would rely on in the course of the trial.

The court also directs that names of all witnesses, their evidence also be served on the defense team on or before November 14.

Case adjourned to November 21

TRIAL WARRANT

The court prior to adjourning the case instructed the Nsawmam Prison officers to take custody of the accused persons and produce them in court anytime they are to appear.

This was after their counsel Yaw Dankwah raised a concern that even though the accused persons were remanded at the Nsawma Prisons, they could not have conference with them. He said when they went to Nsawam Prisons they were told the accused persons names were not on their list.

But Winifred Sarpong, the Senior State Attorney explained that even though court remanded them to Nsawam, a trial warrant was needed for the investigator to hand them over to the prisons.

She added that such was the miscommunication that led to defense council not being allowed to see their clients.

All three Nigerians Sampson Aghalor, Elvis Ojiyorwe and Jeff Omarsar tother with one Ghanaian, Yussif Yakubu have been slapped with conspiracy and kidnapping.

They have all pleaded not guilty.