‘I Sell Onions, Not Grenades’ – Bomb Suspect Tells Court

Defense Lawyers in the trial involving suspects arrested over the possession of unauthorized explosives in Accra say the defendants do not trade in grenades.

According to George Asamaney, lawyer for Osmani Alhassan an onion seller, his client trades in large quantities of onions and not bombs.

He was emphatic that his client sells his onions at Agbogloshie market in Accra.

The lawyer was arguing for bail for his client before an Accra Central District Court yesterday. He  stated that since the arrest of Alhassan on January 15, his liberty had been curtailed adding that “as we speak now, his plea has not been taken which is contrary to the law.”

He argued that when an accused person was before court, he was required to plead insisting that the court has the discretion to do justice to the accused person.

Lawyer Asamaney whose client is in the dock with Ismaili Ali Musah, 30, an Arabic Teacher in Lybia and Abdul Karim, a Filling Station Attendant contended that there was no need for his client to be kept in custody incommunicado.

He wondered why the prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector Simon Apoirsornu claim investigations are ongoing two weeks after the arrest of Alhassan.

The senior lawyer explained that the court may not grant bail if it was not satisfied that the accused person would be available to stand trial.

He said Alhassan was arrested in his home indicative of the fact that the accused had a fixed place of abode.

Opposing the bail application, Detective Chief Inspector Apoirsornu said discreet investigation is ongoing which have not yet been completed.

He contended that it was premature for the court to grant the bail if the bail is granted, the accused persons would hamper further investigation.

The police officer disclosed that the prosecution had been travelling with the accused persons in respect of the case before the court.

According to him, the case bothers on national security and that the court was only for committal but the high court had the discretion to grant bail to the accused persons.

Ebenezer Kweku Ansah, the trial magistrate ruled in favour of the prosecution indicating that one does not easily come by grenades.

Hearing continues on Feb. 16

One of the suspects is said to have links with international terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), although the Police in Ghana are yet to officially confirm that suspicion.

The Police reportedly found seven grenades of varied species in the custody of Abdul Karim who cooperated with investigations to arrest his two other accomplices.

The prosecution told the court that the Odorkor Police on January 15, at about 10:30 am, received information that the three suspects were in possession of explosives.

The police proceeded to a house behind Kata Hostel at Kwashieman; and on reaching there, Abdul Karim Yakubu was arrested with seven hand grenades.

Upon interrogations, Yakubu mentioned Ismaila Ali Musah and Osman Alassan as those who sold the grenade to him and led the police to arrest the other accused persons.

The prosecution said looking at the nature of the explosives, there is the need for the police to conduct further investigations to establish how the accused came by them and also establish what they intended to use them for.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher