Expectant mother granted bail

Princess Konor, a 20-year old pregnant inmate of the Sekondi Prisons was over the weekend granted a self-recognizance bail under the Justice for All (JFA) project being initiated by the Judicial Service.

Mr Justice Clemence Honyenuga, an Appeal Court Judge, however, cautioned her to report fortnightly to the Cape Coast Police, where she was originally arrested for allegedly stealing a bag of cassava.

In all, 42 cases were heard by two courts sittings within the Sekondi Prisons, to help de-congest the prisons of remanded suspects whose cases are yet to be heard.

Out of the number, 16 were granted bail, five cautioned, bonded and discharged, three bonded and discharged, whilst two were convicted and imprisoned.

One case was heard from another court with 15 applications refused.

The cases heard ranged from robbery, murder, manslaughter, stealing to narcotics.

Justice Honyenuga was also not happy with rumours that the convicts freed by the project were being re-arrested for other crimes.

He said research carried out by a team of experts had discredited the assertion, adding, "We should not dent the successes being chalked by this JFA project ".