Trial Of Rawlings' Aide To Be Restarted

The trial of Victor Emmanuel Smith, an aide to former President Jerry John Rawlings, who is charged with issuing threats of death to two Journalists will restart at an Accra Circuit Court on June 2.

The court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Ankamah fixed the date after both defence and prosecution counsel agreed that the trial should re-start instead of adopting the proceedings of an Accra Circuit Tribunal, which was trying the case.

The judge on April 2 asked both the prosecution and defence to decide on the matter. Dr Benjamin Kumbour, counsel for Smith on Friday told the Court that his client's case should be re-started and the prosecution led by Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, agreed.

The trial had been halted following the transfer of Mr Imoru Ziblim, the Judge presiding over the case, and changes made in the court systems during which the tribunal system was phased out.

Smith on April 12, last year appeared before a circuit tribunal for allegedly issuing threats of death to two journalists.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted 50 million cedis bail by Mr Imoru Ziblim, the former trial Judge.

The prosecution said on March 18, last year, Smith and Mr Abrampah Mensah, Interim President of the Action Forum of the National Democratic Congress, wrote a correspondence to be handed over to Mr Kweku Baako Jnr., Editor of "The Crusading Guide" newspaper and Mrs Margaret Amoakohene, a social commentator and lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon that he would not sit down unconcerned over their criticisms of the former President.

The prosecution said the accused also warned that if the victims failed to stop their criticisms after receiving the letters, members of the Action Forum would be given pick-up vehicles to track them down and crash them.

Smith further stated that should these steps to silence the two fail they would devise other means to kill them.

The prosecution said Mensah, who is a witness in the case, was alarmed and revealed the plot to a friend. His friend in turn gave the letter containing details of the plot to Mr Baako Jnr, who informed Mrs Amoakohene. A report was subsequently made to the security agencies.