GRi in Court Ghana 03 - 02 - 2001
High Court defers ruling on bail application
of Omanhene
Car spare parts dealer in trouble for
possessing fake documents
Truck pusher jailed 10 years for sodomy
The thief who raised false alarm
Court remands 60 year-old farmer for
defiling 13-year-old girl
High Court defers ruling on bail
application of Omanhene
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 May 2001
Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem II, Omanhene of Acherensua, who is being held in prison custody on a murder charge was again refused bail when the case came up for hearing at a Sunyani High Court on Wednesday.
The court deferred its decision to either uphold and reject his application till next Wednesday May 9.
Nana Ampem, who is also Chairman of the Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, is being tried for shooting one Nii Ato Quaye, who was among a group of youth who attacked him at his house at Acherensua on April 17.
Mr. Justice Paul Kwadwo Gyaesayor, Supervising High Court Judge, explained that he needed time to study defence counsel's arguments before he could give his ruling.
Mr. Otu-Essel Kwadwo Fordjour, Counsel for the accused submitted that the continued detention of his client in prison custody is a violation and an infringement on his human rights.
He said his client acted in self-defence and should, therefore, be granted bail since the facts do not support a murder charge.
Counsel argued that the Omanhene has not as yet been formally charged and since the criminal assizes would end in July it was not likely that the case would be heard this or next year, if even he is going to be charged.
He said, "the law that says that bail will not be granted in murder cases, is subject to certain circumstances and peculiar situations and, therefore, it does not completely oust the jurisdiction of the court to grant bail".
Responding to defence counsel's submission, Mr. Betuuriseeh Cab-Bayuo, Chief State Attorney said the decision was at the discretion of the court.
He said he had not yet received the docket of the case to enable him to prefer any charge since the investigator is yet to complete his work.
GRi…/
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Car spare parts dealer in trouble for
possessing fake documents
Kumasi (Ashanti 02 May 2001
Kwabena Owusu-Ansah, a car spare parts dealer at the Suame Magazine in Kumasi on Wednesday appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Tribunal for possessing fake Tax Clearance Certificate.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted eight million cedis bail with one surety to re-appear on May 15.
Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Fabian K. Afesi told the tribunal chaired by Mr. C. V. Senu, that the accused registered his business established at the Suame Magazine on March 10, 1997.
He said Owusu-Ansah in his bid to clear goods he ordered from Germany, which had arrived at the Tema Port, went to Suame office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with a tax clearance certificate and assessment notice for 1997 to 1999.
Upon close examination officials of the IRS became suspicious of the authenticity of certificate.
Chief Inspector Afesi said the signature on the certificate bore the name D. K. Nkansah, but there was no officer at the IRS office that goes by that name.
When questioned, he insisted that it was given to him by one Asamoah of that office but could, however, not point out that officer.
The prosecutor told the tribunal that the Police consequently arrested him and upon investigation it was detected that the signature on the certificate did not tally with that of any of the officers qualified to sign it.
Mr Samuel Safo-Gyamfi, Counsel for the accused, insisted that the tax clearance certificate was genuine and was issued by the IRS.
He said his client has been filing his tax returns and that one Mr Newman was in-charge of his tax file.
Counsel said when Owusu-Ansah called at the Suame office of the IRS one Owusu claimed that he has taken over from Newman and went with the accused to his shop where after assessment he was asked to pay 800,000 cedis which he did.
He said when the accused went to the office to file his assessment notice to clear the goods he was told that his tax file could not be traced.
The officers asked him to pay 500,000 cedes, which he refused and it was the refusal that angered them to frame him up.
GRi…/
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Truck pusher jailed 10 years for sodomy
Asamankese (Eastern Region) 03 May 2001
The Asamankese Circuit Court has sentenced a 20-year-old truck pusher, Kenneth Opoku Kwarteng to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for having unnatural carnal knowledge of a seven-year old boy.
Kwarteng, alias "independence", who was charged with sodomy was convicted on his own plea.
Prosecuting, Detective Police Inspector Alex Osei told the crowded court that at about 7.00 a.m. on April 22, the boy went out with some friends to play at the Kade Presbyterian JSS.
He said the accused lured the boy into the bush under the pretext of plucking mangoes for him and forcibly had anal sex with him.
The visibly shocked court was told that the accused gave the boy 2,000 cedis when he started crying as a result of the pain and bleeding he suffered.
The prosecutor said some people who heard the victim's story went to the bush to look for Kwarteng, who upon seeing them took to his heels but was eventually arrested and handed over to the police.
GRi…/
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The thief who raised false alarm
Asamankese (Eastern Region) 03 May 2001
A labourer, Kwaku Anim after allegedly breaking into the room of his landlady and stealing items valued at over 10 million cedis raised a false alarm that the house was under attack by armed robbers.
He asked the inmates of the house to keep indoors in their own interest. Dogs in the house, however, were not heard barking nor was the sound of any vehicle heard.
Chief Inspector E. K. Kwashie prosecuting told the Asamankese Circuit court, presided over by Mr S.S. Appiah.
He said Anim on the night of February 14 broke into the room of his landlady, who is out of the country, and stole a 14-inch television set, a sound system with speakers and an electric generator.
He then played a trick to cover his act by raising a false alarm that the house had been invaded by armed robbers and that it was dangerous for anyone to come out.
The next morning after the theft had been detected Anim was suspected and was arrested and later granted bail.
Chief Inspector Kwashie said the Police later had information that the stolen items were in the custody of the person, who stood surety for Anim and when his room was searched the items, except the generator were found.
During interrogation, Anim admitted the theft and explained that he had sold the generator at Kumasi for 800,000 cedis. He then led the police twice to Kumasi on a "wild goose chase" since he could not lead them to the purchaser of the generator.
The Judge, Mr Appiah directed the Police to charge both Anim and the surety with conspiracy to steal and stealing and adjourned the case to May 14.
GRi…/
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Court remands 60 year-old farmer for
defiling 13-year-old girl
Asamankese (Eastern Region) 03 May 2001
A 60-year-old farmer, Kwasi Donkor from Adankrono near Kade in the Eastern Region was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by the Asamankese Circuit Court for defiling a 13-year-old school girl.
Donkor, who pleaded not guilty, will reappear before the court, presided over by Mr. S.S. Appiah, on May 9.
The court heard that about four weeks ago, the girl who stays at Adankrono was going to school at Kade in the morning when the accused called her and sent her on an errand.
Detective Inspector Alex Osei, prosecuting, said the unsuspecting girl went with Donkor to his house where he forcibly had sex with her.
He said when the girl told him she would report the incident to her mother the accused threatened to kill her if she did.
He said about a week later Donkor invited the girl again and had sex with her a second time.
Inspector Osei said three days later the girl's guardian noticed a change in her comportment but when she questioned her she said she was all right.
Not satisfied with her answer, the guardian invited the girl's brother who also interviewed her extensively before she told the truth.
The matter was reported to the police at Kade and the accused was arrested.
GRi…/
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