Fresh Charges For Delta Force

From right, COP Yohunu, the IGP, Asante-Apeatu, COP Bright Oduro, DCOP Ken Yeboah and ACP Ampofo Duku

THE WOES of the 13 Delta Force members, who escaped from the KMA Circuit Court in Kumasi, have deepened as it has emerged that they will face additional charges over their illegal conduct.

“There will be additional charges under Section 226(C) of the Criminal Offences Act, (Act 29 of 1960), escaping or permitting himself to be rescued from lawful custody,” the IGP, David Asante-Apeatu, said.

According to him, all the 13 members have been re-arrested and they are currently in prison custody, serving their two weeks’ remand sentence, which the court slapped on them last Thursday.

Fresh Charges For 8 Suspects

The IGP, who travelled from Accra to Kumasi on Saturday with some top police officers over the incident, disclosed also that the eight people, who aided the 13 people to escape, would also face some charges.

“They will be charged for Disturbance of Court Order, under Section 223 of the Criminal Offences Act, (Act 29 of 1960) and Resisting Arrest and Rescue, under Section 226 (1B) of the same Act and other charges that will be disclosed after investigations,” he stated.

Other Suspects

IGP Asante-Apeatu, with a grim face that clearly expressed his frustration about the whole episode, stated that “the police will continue to pursue all those who played part in this unfortunate act.”

“This act of lawlessness has the propensity to cast a slur on the hard won image of our dear nation. As a nation, we have come very far in our democratic pursuit, and we cannot afford to slip.”

Fresh Investigation

The IGP disclosed that the police administration had commenced investigation into the entire episode, with particular focus on police operation at the court premises on that fateful day.

The investigation, he explained, seeks to “evaluating operational defects associated with the incident and also addressing security encumbrances in our courts and other public facilities.”

He described the escape of the 13 people from court as “unfortunate, reprehensible, un-Ghanaian and the police service wishes to condemn it in no uncertain terms.”

According to the IGP, those who invaded the courtroom after the judge had pronounced her remand sentence, “threatened to assault the judge and, in the process, the accused persons escaped.” 

War Against Vigilantism

IGP Asante-Apeatu stated, “The Police Service hereby declares war on the act of vigilantism and all other forms of mass disorder and disturbance. We shall clamp down on it with all the force that we can marshal.”

According to him, vigilantism has been a worry in the country in recent times, and his predecessors did their best to stop the canker. He gave the assurance that the police would employ legitimate means available, including dialogue, enforcement and enactment of law to stop the canker once-and-for-all.

Assures Judiciary

Mr. Asante-Apeatu assured members of the judiciary that the Police Service would at all times provide maximum security for them and Ghanaians in general, urging the citizenry to resort to dialogue to address their grievances.

Members of the Delta Force, a vigilante group, linked with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), were hauled to court over charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer, assault on public officer, causing unlawful damage and rioting after they attacked George Adjei, the Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer in his office.

The IGP stormed Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region, in the company of COP Bright Oduro, Director General CID and COP Christian Yohunu, in-charge of operations, just to mention but a few.

 

Source:dailyguideafrica