Crime & Punishment of Friday, 16 March 2018

Source: dailyguideafrica.com

'Bomb' suspect discharged

Osman Alhassan was charged together with two others for allegedly possessing military hand grenades Osman Alhassan was charged together with two others for allegedly possessing military hand grenades

Osman Alhassan, one of the three accused persons arraigned before an Accra Central District Court for possessing military hand grenades, has been discharged for want of evidence.

This follows a decision by the Attorney General’s Office to drop the charges against him based on evidence presented to it.

The two have been charged with possessing explosives and firearms without lawful authority.

Osman Alhassan, 33, distanced himself from the two accused persons from the first day at court.

The lawyer reiterated that he (Osman) sells onions and not grenades.”

Appearing before the court yesterday, a Senior State Attorney, Sefakor Batse, told the court, presided over by Ebenezer Kwaku Ansah that “on the evaluation of the evidence available in the docket referred to the AG’s Office on the matter, the AG has directed that Ismaila Ali Musah and Abdul Karim Yakubu be charged with possessing explosives and firearms without lawful authority.”

She said the AG has also directed that the third accused person, Osman Alhassan be discharged.

The State Attorney told the court that the AG was preparing a bill of indictment to be served on the two at the next adjourned date.

She therefore prayed the court to begin the committal proceedings against the accused persons at the next sitting on April 12, 2018.

Felix Aboagye, lawyer for the two accused persons, once again made a faint attempt to secure bail for his clients.

He later realized that the judge was not ready to change his stance.

The judge ordered the lawyer to apply to the high court for bail for his clients.

“Grenades are not found on the street, hence my decision to remand the two into custody, the judge added.

Ismaila Ali Musah, 31, and Abdul Karim Yakubu, 30, were arrested after the police received information that they were in possession of hand grenades.