Discharged suspects can’t enjoy freedom

Two of three robbery suspects discharged by an Accra Fast Track High Court on Thursday had to return to prison because they have a previous term to serve.

Peter Aflagadzi, Daniel Ayivor and Ayi Ayitttey who had been on remand for 14 years for robbery were to be freed because the prosecution said it could not trace witnesses in the case.

But Aflagazi and Ayivor could not enjoy the “air of freedom” because they had been convicted for a previous offence and were serving life imprisonment.

The two who were sentenced to death had their conviction reduced to life imprisonment following the President's Amnesty granted to some convicts this year.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Justice Iris May Brown explained the circumstances of discharging Ayittey and cautioned him on the kind of job and friends he would join.

“You have not been acquitted, you could be brought back.” “If you are brought before me for committing another offence you would not find things easy,” the court said.

When the case was called, Mrs Evelyn Keelson, a Senior State Attorney informed the court that witnesses in the case could not be traced and since the accused persons had been in custody for 14 years she prayed the court to discharge them.

She said Aflagazdi and Ayivor had been convicted and were serving their various offences.

Source: GNA