‘Prosecution hands over suspect’s money to counsel’
The prosecution in the case of alleged kidnapping of the two Canadian women, has handed over GH¢650.00 to Sampson Aghalor, lawyer of one of the suspects standing trial, in court.
Ms Hilda Craig, Senior State Attorney, told the court that “we do not have any money for Jeff Omarsa, another suspect in the case.”
She said, “Per our records, no money was taken from Omarsa and that it was only his mobile phone that was taken away.”
Per the orders of court which called for the appearance of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Baffour Appenteng, Ms Craig said the senior police officer was out of the jurisdiction and could not attend court.
The Senior State Attorney said the state has made more disclosures, and documents have been filed in court.
According to her, more documents were expected from Canada for the trial.
Mr Yaw Dankwah, counsel for Aghalor, contended that if ACP Appenteng was out of the jurisdiction, his superior could inform the court by writing and same extended to defence counsel.
Mr Dankwah said Omarsa had told the court that the investigator took the money from him.
At the last sitting, there was confusion over monies belonging to Agalor and Omarsa.
Aghalor had told the court that he had GH¢850.00 cedis of which he been given GH¢200.00, whilst Omarsa also contended that he had GH¢800.00 and the police investigator had given him GH¢200.00.
Aghalor and Omarsa are standing trial with Elvis Ojiyorwe, a 27-year-old businessman and Yusuf Yakubu, for their involvement in the kidnapping of the two Canadians in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The Canadians: Ms Lauren Tilley and Ms Bailey Chitty were in Ghana for voluntary work when they were kidnapped.
The accused have been charged with conspiracy, to wit kidnapping, and kidnapping.
They have denied the offence and the court has remanded them into prison custody.
The two Canadians were kidnapped after they had left a restaurant to their apartment at Ridge in Kumasi.
They were allegedly kidnapped amidst shooting and eventually taken to an uncompleted building at Amoam Achiase in the Kwabre District of the Ashanti
Region. – GNA
