By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, Feb. 16, GNA – An Accra Central District Court on Friday fixed February 23, to rule on a bail applications put in by Defence Counsels for three persons arrested in possession of seven hand grenades at Kwashieman, Accra.
The accused are Ismail Ali Musah, 32, Abdul Karim Yakubu, 30and Osman Alhassan 33, they have been charged with possessing explosives. Their pleas have not been taken.
When sitting resumed, the Prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector Simon Apiorsornu told the court that the Police have completed their investigations and have forwarded a duplicate copy of the docket to the Attorney General’s (AG) office since February 13.
Chief Inspector Apiorsornu said the AG’s office would advise on the docket.
The Prosecution however objected to an application for bail for the accused although investigations had been completed.
He told the court that the charges preferred against the accused was a first-degree felony, which falls under indictable offences.
According to Chief Inspector Apiorsonu it was only the High Court that has the jurisdiction to grant bail as per the charges.
“I will like the Defence Counsels to lay their application before the High Court which is the right forum,” he said.
Mr George Asamaney, Counsel for Osman Alhassan, told the court that there was no clear indication as when the advice of the Attorney General would be brought to the Court.
Mr Asamaney said the word “hope” used by the Prosecution was not legal adding that from practice advice from the AG’s Department takes a long time.
He said since the Prosecution had completed investigations into the matter there was no way his client was going to interfere with investigations.
“There is nowhere in the Prosecution’s prayer before the court, indicated that his client may interfere with investigations,” he said.
Defence Counsel said he needed the presence of his client so as to have conference with him in order to prepare for his defence.
He opined that the charge preferred against his client was bailable adding, “If accused is granted bail he would appear to stand trial”.
Mr Felix Aboagye who represented the two other accused associated himself with Mr Asamaney’s submission.
According to Mr Aboagye in instances where a trial could not be conducted within reasonable time, the court had the power to grant bail conditionally or unconditionally.
He prayed the court to admit his client to bail on reasonable terms. The court presided over by Mr Ebenezer Kweku Ansah subjected the accused persons to where they lived and their occupation.
It came to light that Alhassan sells onions and he lived at Darkuman- Nyamekye in Accra, Musah a teacher, left for Libya and returned to Ghana recently and was residing at Agona Nkwanta, and Yakubu, a petrol attendant reside at Agape- Ablekuma.
The case of prosecution was that the three accused persons were arrested in a house behind the Kata Hostel near Kwashieman following a tip off.
The Prosecution said the Police arrested Yakubu at the Kata Hostel with the seven grenades and when he was quizzed, he disclosed that he bought it from Musah and Alhassan whom he led police to arrest
GNA
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