Suspect Runs in Court after Discharge

Bolgatanga, Aug 21, GNA - Thirty five-year-old Nyaaba Akolgo, who spend about two-and-a-half months on remand charged with stealing insecticides valued at about 60 Ghana cedis, took to his heels when a Bolgatanga District court presided over by Mr. Osman Abdul Hakim set him free for want of prosecution.

There was laughter and commotion when Akolgo dashed out of the court room without waiting for directives from court officials. Shouts of "order order order" from police officers and court officials restored calm for proceedings to continue. Akolgo, who had been sitting quietly on move to the dock, asked the court interpreter to be sure of what he (Akolgo) had heard the judge say in his ruling.

When the interpreter affirmed the judge's rule, the Akolgo took to his heels and refused to take further explanation from the interpreter. He was immediately joined by his friends who had been waiting anxiously outside the court room to see the outcome of the case. Mr. Hakim warned against bringing cases to court and failing to pursue them further and said he could not continue to keep suspects in custody when people who brought them showed no interest at pursuing their cases.