Order of Habeas Corpus filed by Ex-Ivorian Minister terminated and dismissed

Accra, Sept 5, GNA – A Human Rights Court on Wednesday terminated a writ of habeas corpus filed on behalf of Justin Kone Katinan, a key ally of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo.

A writ of habeas corpus order was filed by the ex-Ivorian Cabinet Minister's counsel, Mr Patrick Sorgbodjor, asking the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to produce him in court to justify his detention.

The BNI therefore produced Katinan in court August 31.

The court presided over by Mr Kofi Essel Mensah after listening to arguments from the state and defence counsel ruled that it would not like to prejudge, pre-empt and truncate the action as the state had given good reasons for the arrest and detention of Katinan.

It noted that applicant had been remanded by a court of competent jurisdiction and the state had commenced the extradition process on Katinan.

Justifying Katinan's detention, the state led by Ms Merley Wood, Chief State Attorney said Katinan had been lawfully remanded by the Osu District Magistrate court and the extradition process on him (Katinan) was on going as they had written to the Ministry of Interior.

According to Ms Wood an International Arrest Warrant in respect of Katinan had been received by Ghana.

She said following a political upheaval in Ivory Coast Katinan was being sought for on 10 counts of robbery.

The Chief State Attorney disclosed that Katinan was being sought for because he and other gang men had robbed 10 financial institutions.

She said Katinan was arrested by state following procurement of a warrant.

Mr Sogbordzor noted that his client was a refugee, who was seeking asylum in Ghana, adding he had document to that effect.

According to him, there was no law between Ghana and Ivory Coast when it comes to extradition.

“My client fled to Ghana for his safety and assuming he was being sought for an alleged offence, it was not likely for him to get a fair trial in his country,” he pointed out.

Mr Sorgbodzor referred to the ECOWAS and Geneva Conventions to buttress his point to the fact that Katinan's arrest and detention was illegal

Justin Kone Katinan was arrested August 24th by security personnel and kept in detention.

Following his detention in Ghana, Katinan's lawyer secured a habeas corpus order demanding that the BNI produced the ex-Ivorian Cabinet Minister in court and to justify his arrest and explain whether his detention was legal.

Government in a brief information indicated that President John Mahama was seeking advice from the Attorney General on a request for his extradition to face prosecution for war crimes committed during Ivory Coast's recent post-election violence.

GNA