General News of Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Source: dailyguideafrica.com

Judgement day for Kwabenya jailbreakers

Four out of the initial fourteen have been convicted after pleading guiltyFour out of the initial fourteen have been convicted after pleading guilty

An Accra Circuit Court hearing the case of 10 accused persons, who allegedly attacked the Kwabenya Police Station to release seven suspects in custody, has set May 15, 2018 to deliver its judgement.

This was after the prosecution concluded its case.

The case investigator, Detective Inspector Frank Owusu Afranie, ended his evidence-in-chief and was subsequently cross-examined by defence lawyers.

The prosecution presented four witnesses to establish that the accused were actually guilty of the charges.

The 10 accused persons are before the court on three counts of possession of firearm and ammunition, abetment of crime to wit possession of firearm and abetment to escape from lawful custody.

Already, four persons, who pleaded guilty, have been convicted and sentenced by the court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh.

No Case

Meanwhile, George Asamne, defence lawyer for Kofi Seshie and George Sarbah, has indicated that he would file a submission of no case on behalf of his clients.

This was after he told the investigator during cross-examination that his clients were innocent.

The investigator, during his evidence-in-chief, told the court that Attah Kwadzo, an escapee, who was convicted and sentenced by the court, told the police that he saw Kofi Seshie attacking the police station, which led to the death of ASP Emmanuel Ashilevi.



But the defence lawyer disputed the statement, saying his clients denied the accusation when he was arrested and that the police officer did not record what convict Kwadzo said because that was not the case.

The investigator insisted that the convict identified Seshie and led the police to his house to arrest him.

The court gave Mr Asamane up to May 9, 2018 to file his submission of no case.

Illiterate Accused

Another defence lawyer, Bernard Owiredu, who represents Nancy Dentah, who has been accused of charging mobile phones for the inmates at the blind side of the police officers, told the court that his client, who cannot read or write, does not know the rules and regulations of the police station.

He also averred that since the police could not confiscate the said mobile phone that was used by one of the escapees, who is currently on the run, the police could not provide any transcript of a conversation between Nancy and the accused.

Bernard Owiredu claimed the investigator was framing the accused to ensure her conviction by the court.

But the investigator insisted that although Nancy is an illiterate, she was aware of the rules and regulation.