The Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’ Presided by Her Honour Mercy Adei -Kotei has admitted to bail all 26 accused herdsmen arrested by the Anti-Armed Robbery taskforce in possession of arms and ammunition at Donkorkrom in Afram Plains North District in Eastern Region.

The accused persons were provisionally charged with seven counts but only the charge of Unlawful Assembly was relied on as Prosecution admitted errors in other charges which will be amended.

The accused persons are Sariki Iddrisu Sambo, Issak Ali, Aliu Waale, Abubakari Mohammed, Umaro Balla, Aliu Umaro, Abubakari Ibrahim, Ibrahim Abubakari, Abdulai Madela and Usumanu Umaro Dandaade.

The rest are Abass Umaro, Waale Sindoh, Mohammed Abubakari, Amadu Issah, Umaro Bawa, Mohammed Abubakari Jamalla, Alhaji Umaro Mohammed, Mohammed Bello, Sulley Usmanu, Abass Ibrahim, Alhaji Umaro Mohammed, Usuman Umaro and Sumani Abubakari.

The facts of the matter presented by the Prosecuting officer Kwasi Opare Wiredu, a State Attorney are that on August 29,2021 at about 1:00pm, the Anti Robbery operational team at Donkorkrom led by DSP Lovelace Kofi Glago in a joint exercise with personnel from the Donkorkrom Division and District upon tip-off intercepted and arrested the suspects having attempted to escape.

They were onboard Toyota Tacoma pick-up with registration number AW 983-20, Ford Pick Up with registration number GE 7066-11 and motor tricycle with registration number M-21-EN 635, at Donkorkrom township in front of Glory Oil Filling station.

The taskforce retrieved one foreign pistol, three locally manufactured pistols, four single-barrel shotguns, 66 live AAA and BB cartridges, eleven 410 cartridges, ten 7.65mm ammunition,17 machetes and two daggers.

A search was extended to the rooms of suspect Iddrisu Sambo and Issaka Ali at Donkorkrom Zongo and at one of the rooms of Idrissu Sambo which twelve (12) BB cartridges were found.

None of the accused persons was able to produce documents on the weapons and ammunition.

Prosecution, therefore, prayed the court to remand the accused persons to enable police to complete investigation.

The defence counsel Lawyer Alex Gyamfi argued that a child member of the Fulani community was kidnapped which the family reported the the Fulani Chief who is the first accused person -Sarki Iddrisu Sambo who also lodged formal complaint at Donkorkrom Divisional Police command .

While on their way to the police station to join the police to rescue the victim, the Anti Armed robbery taskforce arrested them.

He said the accused Fulani Chief and other accused persons were not in good health therefore prayed the court to grant bail to the accused persons who have spent almost 400 hours in police custody.

The court heard the defense counsel and granted bail sum of Ghc100,000 with two sureties each.

One of the accused persons collapsed in court and was rushed to the hospital.

Case adjourned to September 20th, 2021.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Kojo Ansah