The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, has been remanded by the Circuit Court in Accra until September 12.
Abronye DC was arraigned on two provisional charges, but his plea was not taken before he was remanded upon the prosecution’s request.
The first charge relates to “Publication of False News with intent to cause Fear and Panic, contrary to Sections 208(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 123 of the Electronic Transaction Act, 2008 (Act 772).”
The second charge, per the charge sheet, is related to “Offensive Conduct Conducive to Breaches of Peace – Contrary to Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).”
In court on Tuesday, September 9, Chief Inspectors Ebenezer Okuffo and Jonas Lawer held forth for the prosecution, while Daniel Nii Martey Addo represented the accused.
Chief Inspector Okuffo submitted that the accused should be remanded into lawful custody pending further investigations.
To buttress the prosecution’s prayer, Chief Inspector Lawer added that if the accused is granted bail at this stage of their investigation, it will hamper their ability to investigate this matter properly.
He added that the accused was arrested on Monday, September 8, and “We don’t want to breach the 48-hour rule; that is why we brought him before you to remand him into lawful custody so that we can conduct further investigations.”
It was his case that the nature of the accusations borders on the security of the nation, and “we need to conduct thorough investigations”; therefore, granting him bail would not be helpful.
*Request for bail*
While pointing to Section 96 of the Courts Act, counsel for the accused, Daniel Nii Martey Addo, said his client should be granted bail pending trial.
He argued that the accused voluntarily and willingly attended police invitations and would always make himself available when the police called on him.
He contended that the basis upon which the prosecution opposed bail was misconstrued. It was his submission that the grounds to reject bail could be whether or not he is a flight risk or whether he may assist with investigations.
Counsel argued that the charges against the accused are misdemeanors, and “the court should exercise discretion in favor of my client.” If he fails to appear in court, the bail can be revoked.
*Letter for Asylum*
Chief Inspector Lawer, in his additional grounds to the court opposing bail, said the accused is a flight risk.
The prosecution said it is on record that the accused has written to various countries seeking asylum, including Ivory Coast, which can only be accessed by foot.
“We are saying that the accused, when granted bail, has a 100% chance of absconding,” the prosecution prayed.
To this end, the prosecution prayed that he should be remanded into police custody “for us to conclusively investigate and arraign him before you.”
Counsel for the accused, in his reply to the said letters of asylum, said the alleged letters were written before the accused person submitted himself to the police.
Counsel said he went to the police willingly, and the accused would avail himself to attend court.
Counsel told the court, as part of his prayer for bail, that the accused owns a television station called Ohia TV, and a person like that cannot be a flight risk.
*By Court*
The Circuit Court, presided over by His Honor Samuel Bright Acquah, acknowledged that the plea of the accused was not taken.
The court, while remanding the accused, said the reason the police gave was that they wanted to conduct a full investigation and did not want to breach the 48-hour rule.
This request by the prosecution was granted, and the accused was remanded until September 12.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
