JUDGE DECLINES TO SIT ON A CASE …Involving staff

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Juaben-Ash

THE PRESIDING judge of the Juaben Circuit Court, Mr. Justice Alex Anim Asante, on Tuesday declined to sit on the  case because one of the  accused  persons happened to be a staff of the Judicial  service at Kumawu.

The eight accused persons standing trial before the court are; Samuel Adomako, Opoku Agyei, Nana Oteng (at large), Kwaku Duah, Kwabena Adusei, Kwabena Agyekum, Owusu Boateng, alias Alabama and  Okeyerema Kwame Adu.

The judge, therefore, ordered the prosecutor, Inspector Daniel Dazo, to redirect the case to another court since one of the accused persons works in his court at Kumawu in Ashanti.

A Few months ago, some concerned natives of Kumawu demonstrated against the Asanteman Council in demand of a new Omanhene, whose demise some years back has rendered the Kumawu stool vacant.

In the wake of the demonstration, the demonstrators allegedly vandalized some property of the Kumawu Traditional Council upon which the suspects were charged with the offence of the causing damage to public party, riot, unlawful assembly, offensive conducts and failing to inform the police to comply with a request to postpone a demonstration.

The Judge explained his position in the fact that Opoku Agyei is one of his staff members at the Kumawu court, where he (judge) exercises oversight responsibility and therefore could not try him before his court.

Consequently, he asked that the prosecution should redirect the case to another court.

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