The Weija Circuit Court in the Ga South Municipality which remanded a commercial driver and his conductor for assaulting a police officer has rescinded its earlier decision to hear the case on Monday, April 1, 2019, and brought it earlier to Friday, March 29 due to the deterioration in health of the two.
The Court will hear the case on Friday to enable counsel for the two to apply for bail for them to seek medical treatment.
The health status of the driver, Francis Buabeng, and his mate, Albert Ansah, started deteriorating when they were allegedly subjected to serious beating while in police custody, according to their lawyer.
The ‘trotro’ driver and his mate were captured on video allegedly assaulting a policeman, Constable Julius Mawuli Ekpe, in Accra.
They were remanded in police custody to reappear on Monday, April 1.
When they appeared before the Weija Circuit Court, presided over by Bernard Bentil, last Monday, the driver and his mate pleaded not guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit crime, assault of a public officer, causing damage to police accoutrement and obstruction.
They are represented in court by renowned human rights lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu and, according to him, the physical appearance and demeanour of the accused clearly confirm they have suffered abuse.
Speaking in an interview on the issue on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa on Wednesday, the Chairman of the True Drivers Union, Yaw Barima, said they have been visiting the two since they were arrested and remanded and their health status continue deteriorating due to the alleged abuse by the police in the cells.
He said due to this, they instructed their lawyers to seek early bail for them to be able them to seek medical treatment and the court granted them the permission on Monday, March 25, 2019.
Yaw Barima confirmed that the case will, therefore, be held on Friday, March 29, 2019 and not the earlier date of Monday, April 1, 2019.
Source: 3news
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Those of you who are supporting this reckless action whereby security agents beat up suspects anyhow upon their arrest will sooner or later have a taste of it and then you'll understand how it feels. The police today is more of a nuisance than law enforcers. May the driver and mate hold on until they get some treatment.
IF I WERE THE JUDGE I WOULD SET FREE THE DRIVER AND HIS MATE FOR SUCH ABUSE OF POWER BY THE POLICE ON SUSPECTED CRIMINALS IN THEIR CUSTODY. WHY SHOULD THE POLICE RELY ON THEIR UNIFORM TO BRUTALISE CIVILIANS? I CAN GUESS FROM THE ALLEGED TORTURE OF THE SUSPECTS WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY THAT THE POLICEMAN ACTUALLY PROVOKED THE DRIVER AND HIS MATE BEFORE THEY (DRIVER AND MATE) ALSO OVER-REACTED IN SELF DEFENCE ON THAT FATEFUL DAY.
They deserve whatever they have received so far. One of the most lawless sect of Ghanaians - Trotro Drivers.
Life is full of lessons. There are enough lessons in this for other mates and drivers. and there are lessons for police toooo
I pity this driver and his mate paaa ooo. but i am sure that this will be a fine lesson to their likes not to ever think of waving at a police personnel in uniform. All these are part of the broken down social system. some private divers can be very ***barred word*** on the road but as for trotro drivers and their concomitant bus conductors; when they remove one hand it means give way and they can stop anywhere and at anytime. You dare correct them and you will hear your ears( wob3te wasom)