A Tema High Court on Wednesday, granted the #FixTheCountry convener, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor bail to the tune of GH¢2 million.
Per the conditions granted by Justice Daniel Mensah, the embattled E-levy coup plotter is to provide 2 sureties one of whom should deposit documents to his landed property in execution of the bail.
Mr Barker-Vormawor’s passport should also remain in the custody of the Republic, and he must report himself once a week to the police command.
The #FixTheCountry convener is facing treason felony charges after a social media post threatening a coup.
Prior to the ruling, the activist's lead Counsel, Akoto Ampaw told the court the constitution guarantees his client liberty and a right to be presumed innocent.
Describing the case as one not backed by any evidence, the prosecution was unable to show the applicant was prepared to carry through his threats, albeit conditional.
Lawyer Akoto Ampaw also dismissed as untrue claims by state prosecutors that his client has no fixed place of abode, and assured of his client's preparedness to avail himself to stand trial if granted bail.
“He has led them to three locations. They have conducted searches there,”,Mr Ampaw said.
On her part, Senior State Attorney Hilda Craig said per the Martin Kpebuvs Attorney-General No.2 case, all offences were bailable, but certain conditions ought to be met.
She told the court the state cannot trust him to show up if he’s granted bail and dismissed claims that the case against the youth activist is not supported by evidence.
Justice Daniel Mensah, in his ruling, stated that the Court cannot disable itself from the grant of bail as per the legal arguments urged upon him by both counsel for Mr. Vormawor and the Republic.
He disagreed with arguments of the position that Mr. Vormawor did not have a fixed place of abode having regard to the facts of the case; and that he was at flight risk since his passport was already in the custody of the Republic.
Mr Barker-Vormawor was arrested on February 11, 2022, for a post he allegedly posted on a social media platform on February 9 that he would stage a coup should the E-Levy Bill be passed by Parliament.
The police said Mr Barker-Vormawor’s “post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”
He first appeared at the court on February 14, but his plea was not been taken.
Some supporters of the movement carrying placards waited in the court premises in solidarity with their leader, while police in riot gear watched with eagle eye to maintain law and order.
<<Print>>