Spokesperson for ‘New Force’ a political group, Shalimar Abbiusi has been granted bail in the sum of GHc20, 000 with two sureties by the Kaneshie District Court.
In addition to the bail sum, the court said she should report to the Immigration Officers three times every week and the prosecution should hold on to her passport until final determination of the case.
The Court also said, the places of abode of the sureties should be known to the Prosecution.
This was after the 30-year-old Belgian national, Shalimar Abbiusi pleads not guilty to one count of “obtaining for yourself a student permit by false declaration contrary to section 52 (1) (i) of the Immigration Act 2000 {Act 573).”
The Magistrate, Nana Abena Owusu-Amenyo has adjourned the case to December 91 for Shalimar who was in Court with her relatives to reappear.
Bail
Lawyers of the accused, led by Francis Xavier Sosu while praying for bail said, his client has persons of independent substance to stand as sureties for his client.
He said, the Independent sureties are of sufficient means who can guarantee the availability of the accused to ensure her availability during trial, even if it was for day-to-day trial.
He also submitted that, at the appropriate time, “we will adduce sufficient evidence” to prove their innocence.
According to him, the Charge against his client has no substance and that sureties.
Porous borders
The Prosecutor Adolf Aboagye Afreh, an Assistant Commissioner of Immigration while opposing to bail said, Under immigration Act 2000, the offense of this nature the burden is on the accused person.
He submitted that, the prosecution is to raise doubt while the accused is to prove that indeed she is a student of the university
“As I indicated to you on Thursday, (December 7), the accused is a flight risk and though we have her passport she can flee at anytime,” he said.
He submitted that, even though he is an immigration officer, he admits that the Ghana borders are porous and she can flee if she decides to.
He argued that, the State is actually interested in her activities in the country as a foreigner and her interest in engaging in polical activities in the country.
He urged the court to refused her bail.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts, the accused person is a 30 year old Belgian and was arrested when she was invited by the Head of National Enforcement Section at the Immigration Headquarters in relation to her Immigration Status in the country.
It states that, the Ghana Immigration Service’s attention was drawn to the activities of the accused on social media.
The facts stated that, she was found in some short-video in circulation introducing the emergence of a new political grouping described as “The New Force”.
It stated that, she introduced herself as the spokesperson for the force and Investigations revealed that the accused first came to Ghana on the 4th of September, 2017 through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
It said, she has since been a regular visitor to the country until 2018 when she-became a resident following her supposed admission as a student of the Ghana Christian University College.
The Prosecution dated that, checks from the College reveals that the accused has never been a student. The documents purportedly issued by the college to support her application for residence permit are forged.
“Investigations are still ongoing to unravel the full scale of the issue surrounding the
emergence of the new Political group dubbed ‘The New Force’.
“Accused is therefore charged with the offence .and arraigned before this honourable court for remand into Immigration custody to enable investigators continue with
investigations,” it stated.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Murtala Inusah
