Assin South: Independent Parliamentary Candidate And Four Others Granted GHC 100,000.00 Bail For Breaching COVID-19 Protocols
Assin South: Independent Parliamentary Candidate And Four Others Granted GHC 100,000.00 Bail For Breaching COVID-19 Protocols
Mr. Joseph Kofi Damtse, an independent Parliamentary aspirant for Assin South and four others arrested by the Assin-Fosu police for allegedly holding a rally at Assin Awroso without regards to Covid-19 protocols have been granted a sum of GHC 100,000.00 bail by a Cape Coast Circuit Court on Monday.
The suspects were granted GHC 20,000.00 bail each with two sureties, one surety to be a government worker earning not less than GhC 1,500.00 and will reappear in court on Monday, August 3.
They are Mr. Joseph Kofi Damtse, an independent parliamentary aspirant and a businessman, Mr Daniel Owusu, a trader, Mr Frank Gyamfi, a businessman, Mr Ransford Kwabena Adu, teacher, and Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Boahen works with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Additionally, the suspects are to report to the police every Monday until the final determination of the case.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the four charges of conspiracy to commit crime of failing to notify the police of special event, failing to notify police of a special event and failing to comply with the imposition of restriction act by organizing political rally and failing to comply with the compulsory wearing of face mask.
The Court presided over by Mrs. Dorinda Smith Arthur.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector John Asare Bediako told the court that Deputy Supritendent of Police (DSP), Daniel Kwabena Darko, the Crime Officer of Assin Fosu Divisional Police Command was the complaint.
The prosecution explained that on Friday, July 3, at about 1930 hours, the accused persons under the guise of monitoring ongoing voters registration exercise in Assin South Constituency conspired and went to Assin Aworoso town in a convoy.
After a short courtesy call to the Chief at his palace, the accused went to town, organized and addressed a section of their supporters and some folks without notifying the police as enshrined in the Public Act, 1994 (ACT 491).
According to the police, the suspects blatantly disregarded the Executive Instrument (EI) issued under the Imposition of Restrictions ACT 2020 (ACT 1012) by not ensuring that all of the gathered supporters wore face mask or face shield and adhered to social distancing protocols.
The prosecutor said in the course of the event, accused persons took video footages of the illegal acts which later went viral on social media platforms.
However, on Monday, July 6, the complainant intercepted the viral video, screened it and identified accused without face mask on a mounted platform addressing a massed up crowd of about 50 peoples without face mask or shield.
Police initiated investigations into the case and accused were subsequently arrested and charged him accordingly .
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