Juvenile on bail after three years on remand

A 12-year-old class five pupil from Katakpor, near Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region, who has been on remand for the past three years on a murder charge, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢l0,000 by the High Court in Accra, presided over by Mr Justice E.K. Mensah.

He is, however, to report to the Amasaman police every fortnight till the case is finally determined.

He had been on remand at the Juvenile Remand Home at Osu since March 16, 2005, according to Mr Seth Agyapong Mensah, counsel for the boy.

Making a request for bail for the accused, Mr Agyapong said on March 9, 2005, at Katakpor, the suspect was playing with his friend, one Theophilus Sepenu,15 with whom he stayed in the same community.

He said in the course of their play the two began to tease each other following which tempers flared and a fight ensued. The suspect was said to nave hit Theophilus in the abdomen with an implement leaving Theophilus writhing in pain.

Unfortunately, Theophilus died on the way to hospital and the suspect was later arrested.

Mr Justice Mensah granted the bail in response to the appeal by the counsel and asked the suspect to report to the Amasaman police every fortnight.

The Juvenile Justice Act 2003, 46 (1) states that "where a juvenile or young offender is ordered to be sent to a centre, the detention order shall be the authority for the detention and the period shall not exceed (a) Three months for a juvenile offender under the age of sixteen years; (b) Six months for a juvenile offender of above sixteen years but under eighteen years."