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Bawku disturbances - six before Fast Track High Court

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 Source: GNA

Accra, July 4, GNA - Five persons who were among several people rounded up by the Police in connection with unrests at Bawku in the Upper East Region on Friday appeared before the Fast Track High Court charged with possessing firearms and ammunition without lawful excuse. Among the five was a 15-year-old vulcanizer apprentice who was found with a locally manufactured pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition. The court however remanded all the accused including the minor, who it ordered should be sent to the Osu Remand Home. The others are Awumbilla John Ndego, a school bursar, who reportedly had in possession two AK-47 assault rifles; Sumaila Seidu, a farmer, found with a locally manufactured pistol with live cartridges, and Issaka Fuseni and Alhassan Hamdza, both being tried for possessing locally manufactured pistols.

Fuseni was additionally charged for dishonestly receiving a military cap which he knew had been stolen. A Police Constable Daniel Yeboah also appeared before the same court for stealing an AK-47 rifle with 30 rounds of ammunitions belonging to the Police service and dishonestly receiving. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and will reappear on August 4. Remanding them, the court noted that the Bawku conflict had not totally ended and they might interfere in the situation there if granted bail. Two accomplices of Yeboah namely Abugri Mamudu, aka Chairman and one Zakari, alias Macho, were not in court. They were said to have been granted bail by a court in Bawku. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Patrick Morkeh, who prosecuted, told the court that the accused persons were flown to Accra two days ago and required one month to complete investigations. "The issue has taken a national dimension, we should be given one month," ASP Morkeh emphasized. Mr. Anthony Namoo, who led the defence team, prayed the court to grant bail to the 15 year-old-boy and allow him to be tried at the Juvenile Court.

According to Mr. Namoo, the boy and five others had been in custody for four months, adding that the charges levelled against them did not fall under those that bail cannot be granted. He admitted that the situation at Bawku at the moment was not the best, but said the accused persons would not interfere with investigations if granted bail because "they are in Accra now and it is not possible that they can travel from Accra to Bawku to interfere." Mr Namoo further prayed that the various dockets be consolidated. The accused persons were arrested in police swoops between February and June this year, following violent clashes in Bawku.

Source: GNA