Coup Plotters Case: 9 accused persons charged with Treason

District Court Presided over by Magistrate Rosemond Dodua Agyiri, has remanded into BNI Custody a total of nine (9) persons charged for a foiled attempted Coup in Ghana.

The charges preferred against them are four counts of Teason felony, possession of Explosives, Arms and Amunitions fire without lawful excuse

From the 23rd of September 2019 when the State first announced that certain persons have been arrested after security agencies foiled at attempt by some elements to destabilize the territorial integrity of the Republic, the Police have been conducting investigations amidst several arrests.

Police Prosecutors today consolidated their efforts into a single charge sheet which named nine (9) persons as those who played various roles in the attempted Coup plot.

The accused persons, Dr. Fredrick Mac Palm (1st Accused), Donyo Kafui A.K.A Ezor, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu a.k.a Bright Alan Yeboah, Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Gershong Akpah, W.0.2 Esther Saan Dekuwine, Cpl. Seidu Abubakari, L/Cpl. Ali Solomon and L/Cpl. Sylvester Akanpewon, are suspected to have masterminded a fifteen months plot to destabilize the country and possibly take over the government of the Republic.

A seven member legal team led by Victor Adawudu, in court today argued that per the charge of Teason felony leveled against his clients, the Dirtrict Court lacks jurisdiction to her the matter and that the State should have chosen a different forum to try his client. He however fell short of suggesting which forum was the right one for same.

Assistant Supretendant of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare in a sharp contrast to the argument of the defense team stated that the charge of teson is a first degree felony and under the laws of the country, all offences that fall within the first degree felony are offences that are to be tryed by “trial of indictment”.

“Since the District Court is the only court seized with the power to indict accused persons to stand trial at the High Court, we are properly before you my lady” ASP Sylvester Asare stated in Court.

Magistrate Rosemond Dodua Agyiri, in her ruling sided with the argument of Police Prosecutors and indicated that her court is the proper forum to hear all cases that are triable by indictment.

She went further to order that the accused persons who are military officers should be kept in military pending their next appearance in Court and the civilians be kept in three selected Police cells, namely Nima, Osu and Ministries Police Stations. The accused persons are expected back in Court on the 28th of October 2019.