The suspects who are facing trial for allegedly attempting to oust the government by attacking the presidency have been charged with treason at the Kaneshie Magistrate court.
The new charge sheet was disclosed in court today after the initial one was dropped, Starr News court correspondent Murtala Mohammed has reported from the court.
The suspects include a senior military officer Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli and a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces Gershun Akpa.
The charge sheet reads: “Conspiracy to comity treason felony 2. Treason felony
3. Possession of explosives, firearms and ammunitions”.
The new charges come on the back of criticisms by some Ghanaians that the government was backtracking from its initial accusations after it failed to charge the suspects with treason during the first court appearance.
A seven member legal team led by Victor Adawudu, in court today argued that per the charge of Teason felony leveled against his clients, the Dirtrict Court lacks jurisdiction to her the matter and that the State should have chosen a different forum to try his client. He however fell short of suggesting which forum was the right one for same.
Assistant Supretendant of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare in a sharp contrast to the argument of the defense team stated that the charge of teson is a first degree felony and under the laws of the country, all offences that fall within the first degree felony are offences that are to be tryed by “trial of indictment”.
“Since the District Court is the only court seized with the power to indict accused persons to stand trial at the High Court, we are properly before you my lady” ASP Sylvester Asare stated in Court.
Magistrate Rosemond Dodua Agyiri, in her ruling sided with the argument of Police Prosecutors and indicated that her court is the proper forum to hear all cases that are triable by indictment. She went further to order that the accused persons who are military officers should be kept in military pending their next appearance in Court and the civilians be kept in three selected Police cells, namely Nima, Osu and Ministries Police Stations. The accused persons are expected back in Court on the 28th of October 2019.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
