Ex-serial caller in court for allegedly causing fear and panic

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - An ex-serial caller, who allegedly provided fa= lse information to the Deputy National Security Coordinator, on Friday appear= ed before a Circuit Court in Accra for causing fear and panic.

Richard Mensah, a farmer allegedly informed the Deputy National Security Coordinator that some New Patriotic Party (NPP) functionaries ha= d imported 61 jute sacks of ammunitions, including AK 47 rifles and bombs i= nto the country. Mensah, who was charged with publicising false news with the intenti= on to cause fear and panic and deceit of public officer, pleaded not guilty. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Annor told the cour= t presided over by Mrs Patience Mills-Tetteh that a duplicate docket would be forwarded to the Attorney-General's Department for advice due to the security implications of the case. The court has admitted Mensah to GH¢10,000 bail with two sureties to re-appear on November 19.

Mr Kofi Affail Bonnin, who acted as a friend of the court, prayed it= to admit Mensah to bail since the charges levelled against Mensah attracted bail. According to Mr Bonnin, accused had been in police custody for five days and there was no way he was going to interfere with police investigations. He said the inability of the police to put the accused before court=

within the stipulated 48 hours, constituted a breach of his rights and liberties under the 1992 Constitution. ASP Annor said the accused, a serial caller between 2002 and 2008 wi= th the name "Rose Adenta," had been going round concocting false stories. He said on November 8, this year, at 1000 hours, Mensah went to the Deputy National Security Coordinator with the story and some photographs that some NPP functionaries were importing 61 jute sacks of ammunitions, bombs, assorted AK 47 rifles and bayonets from Nigeria. ASP Annor said during the NPP flagbearer primaries, the accused alle= ged that he was given GH¢10,000 to be given to the Western Regional Elector= al Officer, who gave him ballot papers some of which were printed in favour of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo.

He alleged that some of these ballot papers were sent to the Central= , Western and Eastern Regions. ASP Annor said the accused further alleged that the presiding judge over the trial of the Ghana@50 case that involved Dr Charles Yves Wireko-Brobby and Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani was bribed. The prosecution told the court that the accused alleged that during Election 2008, the NPP distributed special ink to all Regional Chairmen o= f the party for distribution to polling station agents to deface photograph= s of Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, the NDC Presidential Candidate to declare them spoiled.

ASP Annor said during interrogation, the accused alleged he had work= ed with Moctar Bamba, the NPP National Organiser, to distribute bayonets to activists of the NPP in the Regions. The prosecution said the accused admitted that on July 31, this year= , he planted a story entitled "Commandos Invade Atiwa" in the newspapers intended to cause fear and panic among the public.

ASP Annor said the police were making efforts to contact one Mmufoh of Nigeria on the alleged importation of the arms. 12 Nov. 10