8 Delta Force Members refused bail

A Circuit Court in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi has refused bail to the eight members of pro-NPP group Delta Force who stormed KMA court last week and freed 13 of their members who were being tried for violent behaviour.

This was after counsel for the accused prayed the court to grant them bail.

The lawyers said their clients were nowhere near the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Court, therefore, could not have caused the distraction they are being accused.

In view of that, the lawyers requested that they are granted bail in the interest of national security and peace, praying the court should not use remand as a form of punishment.

The presiding judge Patricia Bonsu asked if the Prosecution had anything to say about the request for bail, but the prosecution said it had nothing to say.

The bail request of the Defence and the loud silence of the prosecution notwithstanding, the judge remanded the suspects in police custody.

The judge said due to the nature of the case, the bail request cannot be granted.

He has directed that the accused be remanded to reappear in court on April, 18, 2017.

The eight suspects who looked sober when they appeared in court pleaded not guilty to the charges of rescuing accused their colleagues from lawful custody and disturbing a court.

There was heavy security presence at the court.

It would be recalled that members of the Delta Force who were numbering about 50 besieged the premises of KMA circuit court to release their members who were standing trial for storming the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and forcing the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Mr. George Agyei out of office.

A total of 13 men were arrested following the attack and arraigned before court.

But shortly after the Presiding judge Mary Senkyire remanded the men in police custody to reappear on April 20, their colleagues stormed the court and freed them.

The freed suspects later turned themselves in and eight others who were accused of freeing the suspects were also arrested. They have now been remanded to reappear in court on April 18.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful

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