The decision of the trial judge to remand into custody the 13 members of the Delta Force who appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court last week lacked “wisdom”, two-time independent presidential candidate Jacob Osei-Yeboah, has stated.
The 13, who return to court today, Tuesday, 11 April, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime, assault of a public officer, causing unlawful damage, and preventing a public officer from performing his lawful duties when they stormed the Ashanti Regional Security Council on 24 March to drag the regional security coordinator, George Agyei, out of his office. The group had said they would not allow Mr Agyei to work in his capacity as he was not native to the region and did not partake in the campaign that brought the New Patriotic Party to power following the 2016 polls.
They are set to face fresh charges after some of their supporters aided them to escape from lawful custody moments after trial judge Mary Nsenkyire declined the accused bail, ordering that they be remanded for a fortnight. The 13 later turned themselves in to the police.
But the decision of the Circuit Court judge has been criticised by Mr Osei-Yeboah.
In an interview with Accra100.5FM on Ghana Yensom on Tuesday, the politician and businessman said a more agreeable decision would have been arrived at had Ms Nsenkyire assessed circumstances.
He said the accused, following the attack on Mr Agyei, had turned themselves in to the police and had been granted police enquiry bail, duly making themselves available to be ushered to court last week. Further, he said police had not seen the need to cuff the 13 because of their cooperation, for which reason the same police officers did not find it necessary to call for reinforcement on the day the 13 went to trial.
“It was an unwise decision by the judge,” Mr Osei-Yeboah told show host Chief Jerry Forson, adding that the chaos that erupted after the judge’s ruling was proof that it was “not a good decision”.
Judges, he said, were “human and fallible” and need to “tamper justice with mercy” in some situations, adding: “In a democracy, if you do not get judges who are patriotic, who are very learned and have a high level of integrity, they can always mess up democratic situations. That is what is happening.”
Source: AccraFM
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Bam, JOY I have been saying the same, because the guys were harmless else they would have harmed the Judge. The judgment was insensitive, if they walked to the court without force then there was all indication that they would not jump bail. It is like officiating a match, you consider the environment to help you take decision Ken Dapaah is a failure, to appoint someone to such a position required comprehensive consultation including the chairman of the party in the area I am highly disappointed
PLEASE,TREAT THE DELTER FORCE MEMBERS AS IF THEY ARE YOUR CHILDREN.MADAM YOU ARE TAKING THE CASE TOO FAR.
Good one there JOY
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. how time and situation changes. I could imagine how some of these politicians would comment if they were from ndc. Let us allow the law to work. the executive can also act when the court finishes theirs.
KAN DAPAAH SHOULD BE FORCED TO RESIGN OR SACKED. THIS GUY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KOKAIN THAT CAME IN DURING KUFUOR`S TIME, HE IS NOT FIT FOR THE POSITION
I think that judge was appointed by John Mahama and was being tough to show off to the ndc but they will fail. The whole case was a party matter and if not political leaning how can that woman be so wicked in her judgement. These guys didn't hurt nobody, they carried no weapon not even a stick so why hush judgement? And they treat violent ndc with kids gloves.