Eight members of the Delta Force, a vigilante group affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were arrested and charged for allegedly aiding 13 members of the group to escape lawful custody in Kumasi, have been discharged.
The Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs Patricia Amponsah, discharged the eight following advice from the Attorney-General (A-G’s) Office to the police to discontinue the case because there was no evidence to support the arrest and charges levelled against them.
When the case was called yesterday, the prosecutor, ACP Mr Okyere Darko, told the court that the A-G’s Department had asked that the charges be withdrawn for lack of evidence, and submitted the document detailing the reasons to the judge.
Arrest
The eight members were arrested on April 10, 2017, when they allegedly stormed the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Circuit Court to free 13 other members of the group who had been remanded into prison custody.
They were charged with “Disturbing of Court” under Section 223 of the Criminal Offences Act (Act 29 of 1960) and “Resisting Arrest and Rescuing” under Section 226 (1B) of the same Act.
At the first hearing of the case, counsel for the accused persons, Mr Laray Nimako, insisted that the eight were not part of those who allegedly freed the 13.
He argued that the eight were arrested at Fante New Town which was very far from the court, where the 13 suspects were said to have been freed.
At the last adjourned date on April 10, 2017, the prosecutor, ACP Mr Darko, told the court that the A-G’s Office had requested for the docket on the case for study and advice.
The case was subsequently adjourned to May 17.
Delta Force
Although the eight have been discharged, the 13 members of the Delta Force are still standing trial for forcibly vandalising the office of the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Mr George Adjei, and throwing him out of the office.
The 13 were against the appointment of Mr Adjei because they claimed he was not part of the people in the region who worked to bring the party to power.
After they had escaped from the court, they reported themselves to the police later that day.
They were arraigned before another Circuit Court on April 11, 2017, charged with escaping or permitting [themselves] to be rescued from lawful custody” under Section 226 (C) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were fined a total of GH¢31, 200.
They were also made to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for six months or in default go to prison for two years.
Each was fined 200 penalty units which translated into GH¢ 2,400, amounting to GH¢31, 200 or in default three years in jail.
However, the substantive case against the 13 in which they were said to have assaulted the Ashanti Regional Security Co-ordinator and destroyed the property in his office, is still pending in court.
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