Trial of Mobilla's alleged murderers re-starts

Accra, July 27, GNA - Trial of the two soldiers being held over the death of Alhaji Issa Mobilla, Former Northern Regional Chairman of Convention Peoples Party (CPP), re-started at an Accra Fast Track High Court on Tuesday.

This was after the court had replaced a member of the jury who had not recovered from his ailment.

The seven-member jury was therefore sworn in again by the court, the facts were read out to the accused persons after taking their pleas for the second time.

The soldiers; Corporal Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka and their accomplice, Private Seth Goka, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and murdering Alhaji Mobilla.

The State is yet to arrest Private Goka, an accomplice.

Appiah and Modzaka have denied the charges and the court has remanded them into Police custody.

At the court's sitting, it ruled that whenever a member of jury was incapacitated, the law grants that the matter starts afresh.

A new woman member of the jury was substituted and sworn-in when the case was called.

A new witness expected to testify would mount the witness box.

The case was adjourned to July 28.

Prosecution's case is that the deceased, until his death, was a transport owner and Chairman of Northern Regional Branch of Ghana Private Road Transport Union.

It said on December 9, 2004, the deceased was arrested by the Police for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.

While in custody, the Police allegedly received information that his sympathisers were mobilising to free him.

The deceased was transferred from Police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks in Tamale and handed over to the three accused persons who searched, undressed and put him in the guard room.

At about 2130 hours the same day, the Police received information that Alhaji Mobilla, aka Issah Mohammed, had collapsed and died in cells.