Mr Akwasi Bosumpem, Counsel for Dr Sri Yogi Ram Beckley, on Monday prayed the Adjabeng Community Tribunal to discharge his client or grant him a long adjournment so that whenever the Prosecution was ready they could commence with the trial.
The tribunal chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah said that it was too early for counsel to call for his client's discharge. Dr Beckley has been charged for assaulting and kidnapping a class three pupil. He has pleaded not guilty and is on five million cedis bail.
Mr Bosumpem noted that his client had no place of abode in Accra and had to travel from the Volta Region at every sitting, which were only postponed at the instance of Prosecution.
He said his client nearly had an accident, while returning to his home after one of the hearings. During every sitting the Prosecution informs the tribunal that it was awaiting advice from the Attorney General's (A-G) Office.
Superintendent Patrick Sarpong, however, said the Police was ready to commence trial but it was only waiting for the advice of the A-G adding, "we cannot try him without hearing anything from the A-G" The tribunal adjourned the case to 23 September.
The facts as presented by the Prosecution were that on 12 April Beckley was said to have lured a girl to his house under the pretext of buying some vegetables she was selling. In the house, he tied the girl to a tree overnight without water and food, until her stepfather was informed and he raised the alarm.
Beckley was arrested on Saturday 13 April after Police received a complaint from a parent that her daughter was abducted by the accused on Friday evening. An angry mob set ablaze the residence of Beckley at New Gbawe in Accra.
