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29.06.2010 Crime & Punishment

AG orders re-arrest of 14 discharged security personnel

By myjoyonline
AG orders re-arrest of 14 discharged security personnel
29.06.2010 LISTEN


The Attorney General's Department has directed the immediate re-arrest of some fourteen security personnel discharged by a circuit court on Monday.

The fourteen, implicated by an investigative piece by Anas-Aremeyaw-Anas of the New Crusading Guide are facing trial for their alleged roles in the illegal smuggling of cocoa out of the country.

The sitting judge, Patience Mills Tetteh discharged the security personnel for want of prosecution.

She accused the prosecution of showing little interest in the case, but the prosecution claims they are yet to receive advice from the Attorney-General's office.

But that claim seem to have angered the AG's office. The deputy Attorney General Ebo Barton Oduro told Joy News' Sammy Darko the prosecution acted irresponsibly.

He explained that his outfit received the docket on the case on 11th June, 2010 and had to exhaust the necessary procedures before issuing the advice.

“I am surprised; because you have not received the advice from the Attorney General therefore you will not go to court, that sounds rather ridiculous,” he said about the prosecutor.

He said the prosecution could easily have gone to court to explain that the docket was still with the Attorney General's office and ask for an adjournment.

Mr. Barton Oduro called for disciplinary action to be taken against the prosecutor in charge of the case.

Meanwhile, one of the lawyers for the accused persons says the AG's office cannot be absolved from blame.

According to Raymond Bagnabu the AG's office was fully aware of the adjourned date for the case and could also have sent an official from the outfit to the court to explain the issues to the judge.

He said for the AG's office to disrespect the court and the sitting judge was unfortunate.

Raymond Bagnabu however said that the decision to re-arrest his clients was in the right direction because they want to clear their names at the trial.

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana





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