Six Terhe Suspects ‘freed’

The Ada-West Magistrate Court last Friday granted a GH¢20,000 bail with one surety each for 6 out of 7 people standing trail for their involvement in the burning of the remains of the late Tehe chief, Nene Mensah Zotorvi V, and the murder of a 40-year old mourner.

The accused persons, chief of Tamatoku Nene Akwafo Bisensu Zotorvi, 46, traditional ruler, Nene Narh Dutor Bisensu Zotorvi, 56, traditional ruler, David  Tetteh Ayimavor, 36, unemployed, Maxwell Zotorvi 28, farmer, Christian Zotorvi, 22, farmer, and Emmanuel Zotorvi 52, driver, were charged with conspiracy to cause murder, causing unlawful damage, causing harm and murder for their alleged involvement in the burning of the remains of the late chief of Tehe and the killing of a 40-year-old Ofotsu Sabba at Tehe in the Ada-West District on Saturday, 15th September, 2018.

His Lordship Isaac Adjei, presiding, said the court took into consideration the fact that criminal matters of such nature take the Attorney General’s Office considerable time to give a final advice.

The court upheld the Defence Council, Gloria Kanko Arthur’s argument of no facts to support the charges levelled against her clients.

It also upheld the plea of the Defence Council that the continuous stay of the accused persons in custody would jeopardize their health.

The Magistrate, after a brief consultation with both parties, granted the 6 persons a GH¢20,000 each bail with one surety each and ordered that each of the accused persons deposited GH¢1,000 in cash at the court as part of their bail.

The Judge said that the court was convinced that the sureties would ensure that the accused persons appeared on the next adjourned, scheduled for 26th October, 2018.

The court, however, refused to grant bail to the 7th accused person, Francis Amane, a.k.a Selle, on the grounds that he was arrested only 3 days before the court sitting, and  remanded him into police custody to assist police with investigations.

But before granting bail to the 6, the Judge advice the Ghana police service to always finish with investigations before arranging suspects before the courts as that would end the unnecessary delays during prosecution.

By Daniel Akpaloo Nyorngmor, Sege-Ada