Charges against coupists 'very serious' – Kpemka

The three suspects currently in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for allegedly planning to destabilize the country are likely to face life imprisonment if convicted by the court based on the charges leveled against them.

Dr Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, owner of Citadel Hospital and his two accomplices Ezor Kafui, a local weapon manufacturer and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosum were arrested on Friday, 20 September 2019 at Accra and Bawaleshie near Dodowa by a joint security operation of personnel drawn from the Defence Intelligence unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the BNI.

They are facing five charges of conspiracy to commit crime – manufacture of arms and ammunition without lawful authority, possession of explosives and firearms without lawful authority, manufacture of firearms without lawful authority, manufacture of explosives and ammunition without lawful authority and possession of explosives and firearms.

Critics have, however, wondered why they were not charged with treason if, indeed, they were plotting a coup as alleged by the government.

Explaining the development to Class91.3FM on Wednesday, however, Deputy Attorney General (AG), Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, said the charges are equally severe.

“That is a very serious charge and people do not actually think that it is but let me make it very clear and categorical that the charge of possession of ammunition without lawful authority is a first degree felony and if you are convicted on it, you can be sentenced to life imprisonment,” he said.

He added that: “People may not have seen the charges that they were expecting but the current charges are equally serious”.

He also explained that further charges could be preferred against the suspects if the AG assesses the full dockets on the case and realizes that any other charges could apply.