ISIS Grenades: Court to rule on Feb 23

An Accra District Court has set 23 February 2018, to give a ruling on a bail application in the case involving three men arrested in possession of explosives.

Inspector Simon Appiosonu told the court that the prosecution has successfully completed its investigations and handed over the docket to the Attorney General (AG) for advise.

The prosecution added it completed its work on the 10th of February and handed over same on the 13th and asked for time while they await the AG's advise.

The District court presided over by Ebenezer Kweku Ansah who was unhappy about the practice of always asking for time quizzed the prosecution wanting to know exactly what to expect in case the adjournment is granted.

Inspector Appiosonu answered indicating that they hope the advise from the AG would be ready by then.

Counsel for Osmani Alhasssan who is the third accused person, lawyer George Asamani, argued that the AG's advise mostly takes a lot of time adding, it is clear there is no certainty the advise would be ready.

He however maintained that once the prosecution has completed its investigations there is no way the accused persons would impede investigations and as a matter of urgency the presence of the accused persons need to be available for the preparation of their defense.

Counsel for Ismaili Ali Musah and Abdul Karim who the first and second accused persons, made a strong case for their bail saying the offence is bailable adding that section 96(7) of Act 30 of the criminal offences act makes exceptions to where bail should not be granted and this includes the possible interference with witnesses and the accused persons not availing themselves for trial.

The prosecution opposed the application arguing that the District Court lacked jurisdiction to grant bail.

The case was subsequently adjourned.

The suspects were arrested on Monday, 15 January 2018, based on police intelligence at Odorkor in Accra. The police found seven grenades in possession of Abdul Karim who directed police to arrest the two others.

One suspect is believed to have ties with terrorist group ISIS in Libya.