Driver, mate in 'presidential accident' refused bail again

The driver and his mate standing trial for causing an accident which resulted in the death of four presidential guards on the Accra-Tema motorway, have been refused bail again.

Driver Daniel Dawutey Chakitey, 30, is charged with manslaughter and negligently causing harm, while his mate, Samuel Cudjoe, is charged with abetting. The Accra circuit tribunal, which refused them bail on their second appearance on Thursday, adjourned the case to Tuesday, November 28.

The adjournment follows the absence in court of the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Edward Antwi, who reported sick. The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Ziblim Moru, did not take their plea.

In an application for bail, defence counsel Mr John Klu and Mr T. J. Kumi, said the continued detention of their clients violates their constitutional rights in view of the long time the Attorney-General's Department usually takes in processing cases.

"There are some dockets which have been with the Attorney-General for more than eight months," said Mr Klu. Quoting Article 14 sub-section 4 of the constitution, Klu said: "Where a person is arrested, restricted or detained and is not tried within a reasonable time, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions,..."

Klu said: "If something is not done about the matter, the likelihood of the docket seeing the light of the day is remote. The law is no respecter of persons", he said. "The accused persons, who are citizens of the state, should also be protected by the constitution."

He said the accused persons are prepared to abide by any bail conditions of the court. The prosecution said at the earlier hearing that Chakitey, driving an Urvan mini bus on October 29, crossed the presidential convoy on the motorway without caution, causing a fatal accident in which four presidential guards were killed.