Defence counsel, Prosecution clash over robbery charges

A lawyer handling a robbery case before an Accra Circuit Court on Monday clashed with prosecution over the charges preferred against his client.

Seidu Nasigiri, defence counsel, accused prosecuting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Atibillah that the facts of the case did not support the charges, hence client Sulley Fuseini aka Akyidondo, should be granted bail.

Fuseini, a businessman, has been charged with conspiracy and robbery. He had denied the offence and is on remand.

Defence counsel claimed the prosecutor had “personalised cases” and that, when he wants to secure conviction, he normally prefers robbery charges against people nabbed by the police.

According to defence counsel prosecution had repeated his conduct in different matters before the court.

This did not go down well with ACP Atibillah, who prayed the court to inform defence counsel to withdraw what he had told the court.

Prosecution said he was only prosecuting cases for the republic and not his personal agenda.

According to prosecution, before the counsel makes any pronouncements, “he should go and read about what the laws says about charging someone with robbery”.

“Resume your seat I am on feet. I am objecting to your submissions," ACP Atibillah said.

It took the trial judge, Mr Aboagye Tandoh to intervene and asked both parties “not to allow sentiments to lead them in their work.”

The case of prosecution was that the complainant was one Hamza, a tailor. On August 14 this year at about midnight, Hamza engaged Fuseini in a conversation at the Nima Round about.

Fuseini and two other accomplices Hakem and Samba, both at large, accosted the complainant and bundled him to the Nima Township, removed his shirt, laid him on a table and whipped him with belts and canes.

The prosecution said the accused and his accomplices robbed the complainant of his cell phones, Nokia Asha 200 and Samsung note three as well as GHC 350.

According to prosecution, the accused person and his accomplices posted a video coverage of their act on their Facebook wall and indicated that the complainant was a “’homosexual.’’

The prosecutor said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and fled.

On September 15, this year, Fuseini was arrested.