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Kennedy Agyapong sent to Fast Track High Court

By GNA
Crime & Punishment Kennedy Agyapong sent to Fast Track High Court
APR 19, 2012 LISTEN

Accra, April 19, GNA - The embattled New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, who has been charged with treason, was on Thursday sent to the Fast Track High Court shortly after a Human Rights Court granted him bail on health grounds following a habeas corpus writ filed by his lawyers.

The case is, however, yet to be called.
On Wednesday, the Adjabeng Magistrate's Court in Accra declined jurisdiction in the case of treason, treason felony and attempted genocide brought against Agyapong, saying such it should be tried by the High Court.

Ms Patricia Quansah, who presided over the court, said in a ruling after the prosecution had asked for the MP to be remanded that such cases were heard by three High Court judges.

Further, she said, the Chief Justice on June 17, 2008, released a circular to all judges stating that cases much as treason, murder, narcotics and rape, among others, were to be referred the Chief Justice who would in turn refer them to the court.

She asked the prosecution, led by Mr Rex Anthony Wiredu, Principal State Attorney, to refer the matter to the Chief Justice to determine which court should hear the case.

Agyapong is charged with treason, treason felony and attempted genocide.

His plea was not taken and the facts were not read in open court.

On Thursday morning, Mr Justice Kofi Essel-Mensah, presiding over a Human Rights Court set the bail bond at GH¢ 200,000 with two sureties, one to be justified.

The court said it based its decision on the provision of a medical report on the MP.

He is said to be diabetic.
The court adjourned the matter to April 24 to enable the Inspector General of Police (IGP) justify the detention of Agyapong.

It said the MP was entitled to initiate proceedings for the restoration of his rights.

Hundreds of NPP supporters clad in party colours and red attire, who once again thronged he premises of the Supreme Court Buildings in Accra, jubilated when news of the court granting bail to the MP was broken to them.

Agyapong was arrested on Monday after he was invited by the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service over the statements made last Friday on his Accra-based radio station, Oman FM.

Agyapong is reported to have “declared war” and vowed to lynch any fake security operative, following the alleged physical attack on Ms Ursula Owusu, the party's Ablekuma South Parliamentary Candidate and Abu Jinapor, an aide to the party's flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Tarzan, a registration centre in Odododiodoo in Accra.

The MP also said he would organise supporters of the party to defend themselves because the police had failed to protect them.

GNA

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