I Don’t Grant Bail - Judge

THE PRESIDING Judge at a circuit court in Cape Coast, Asiedu Badu, on Tuesday told Lawyer Samuel Adu-Yeboah, a former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Agona East, that he does not grant bails as a Judge for granting sake.

This statement momentarily disrupted proceedings, as people who were listening to the Judge with rapt attention were forced to laugh.

Mr. Badu made the comment when Lawyer Adu-Yeboah appealed for bail for four suspected imposters he was defending.

The suspects were said to have posed as agents of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and defrauded a businessman at Agona Kwanyako.

The Judge explained that the activities of such people undermined the efficiency of the security agencies, and subsequently refused to grant the accused persons bail.

The four were Richard Paintsil, unemployed; Godfred Tsifo, trader; Paul Adatey and Harry Aval, both employed.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded into prison custody to re-appear on December 11, 2007.

Presenting the facts, Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that the complainant was a trader and father of the victim.

He said on November 14 this year, the four went to Agona Kwanyako in the Agona District, posed as agents of the BNI and arrested one Nana Kojo Brako, alias Albert Amoah, with the allegation that he was involved in internet fraud.

The accused persons handcuffed Amoah and sent him together with his laptop computer and two mobile phones to his father at Agona Swedru, where they demanded GH¢ 30,000 from victim's father with the promise to release victim.

Prosecution stated that Amoah's father gave the accused persons GH¢ 300 as part payment with the promise to pay the rest on November 15.

When Amoah was consequently released, he reported the matter to the Swedru Police who arrested accused persons.

Upon interrogation, the accused persons said they were private investigators of Boldhonned Detective Services in Accra, and that they had been attached to the V.C.I.D. unit of the Police Headquarters in Accra.

They however could not explain to the court what the meaning of V.C.I.D. was.

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast