Sekondi High Court remands three Chinese Seamen

Sekondi June 18, GNA - A Sekondi High Court on Friday remanded three Chinese Seamen who threw three stowaways into the sea, to assist the Police in the investigations of a case of attempted murder and murder. This follows an Ex-Parte motion filed by Madam Patience Klinogo, Chief State Attorney.

The Chinese seamen, Li Zibin, Wanjunxing and Zhong Yong Jun, who in Police custody did not appear in court.

Madam Klinogo said the seamen could not speak or understand English Language so there was the need to get an interpreter who could speak both languages to assist the Police in communicating with them. She said there was therefore the need to give the Police enough time to be able to carry out and complete its investigations. Madam Klinogo said the Police would not be able to do this within 48 hours whilst the seamen cannot be kept without the authority of the court. The Affidavit in support of the motion said on June 13, the Chinese cargo vessel, M/V Rul-Ning 3, on which the seamen were on board, left la cote d'ivoire to the Takoradi Port to load bauxite.

It said when the vessel was on the high seas, Li Zibin, the first respondent, who was the captain instructed his crew members to throw into the sea, Aziz Cisse, one of the three Ivorian nationals who were believed to be stowaways.

Later, when the vessel was at the anchorage in the Ghanaian waters, Li Zibin again instructed his crew members to throw into the sea the other two Ivorian nationals, Djiba Camara and Cisse Oumar.

At about 0200 hours on June 13, Djiba Camara was rescued by the Ghana Navy Patrol Boat and handed over to the Police. The affidavit said at about 0900 hours, the same day, local fishermen from Sekondi also rescued and handed over to the Police Cisse Oumar who was then unconscious.

It said Oumar is currently receiving treatment at the GHAPOHA Clinic at Takoradi. The third victim, Aziz Cisse, cannot be traced and is believed to be dead.