AG Denies Discontinuance Of Prosecution Of "Delta Force" Suspects
Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo says she did not order the release of the members of the Delta Force who were standing trial for conspiracy to commit crime and assault on public officer among other charges.
Reports indicated that the Attorney General had discontinued the case against the eight members of the vigilante group, Delta Force, who were said to have aided the escape of the 13 of their members.
The Prosecution filed a nolle prosequi which led to the judge discharging the suspects.
The Minority, alarmed at the court's decision organised a press conference condemning both the Attorney General, the president and the government in general for "pandering to political pressure."
The Minority Leader ordered a rearrest of the suspects and have them prosecuted again.
According to a statement released by the Information Minister, "preliminary investigations suggest that decision was taken without recourse even to the Director of Public Prosecution and may amount to breach of internal procedures."
The Attorney General has therefore ordered investigations into the circumstances which led the Principal State Attorney in Kumasi to enter a nolle prosequi and freed the suspects.
The statement comes in the face of blistering attacks from the minority condemning the decision by the court to free the suspects.
Abass Caesar, Ebenezer Opoku, Samuel Yeboah, Kofi Fosu, Christian Anokye, Kwame Frempong, Eric Kusi and Abdul Suleman Odudu were asked to go home today because the prosecution does not have evidence to prove its case of assault on a public officer and three other charges leveled against them.
Read full statement below:
STATEMENT ON DISCONTINUANCE OF PROSECUTION
The Attorney General's department is investigating circumstances under which a Principal State Attorney in Kumasi decided without recourse to advice from higher authority on a matter of high public interest of this nature to drop charges against persons arrested in connection with disturbances in a Kumasi Magistrate's court in April this year.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the decision was taken without recourse even to the Director of Public Prosecution and may amount to a breach of internal procedures on matters of this nature.
While the department awaits the full results of this investigation we will like to reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the rule of law is applied at all times and persons found culpable of any breaches that bring the work and commitment of the department into disrepute will be sanctioned and the appropriate remedies adopted in the interest of the Republic.
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