The eight accused members of pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante group Delta Force have been discharged by the Kumasi Circuit Court Two due to lack of evidence.
Judge Patricia Amponsah freed the accused persons, following the Attorney General’s claim that it has no evidence to prosecute.
In the last hearing on April 18, prosecutor ACP Okyere Darko upon the advised of the Attorney General prayed the Court for adjournment to enable the AG study the docket.
That application was granted by Justice Amponsah, who set May 17 for hearing.
The accused persons were standing trial over their alleged involvement in the escape of the 13 members of the Delta Force from the KMA Circuit Court on April 6, 2017, when the latter were standing trial for an attack on the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.
The eight were remanded into prison custody on April 10, 2017 when they appeared in court for the first time to answer two counts of charges: disturbances of court as evoked under Section 223 of the Criminal Code of 1960 and resisting arrest and rescue as evoked under Section 226 of the Criminal Code.
They all pleaded not guilty to the offences and their lawyer, Gary Nimako, argued against their alleged knowledge in the said charges.
They were later granted bail to reappear on April 18.
But ACP Darko prayed the Court to allow the Attorney General study the docket and advise accordingly.
When the case was called on Wednesday, the Attorney General prayed the Court to drop all charges against the eight accused persons for lack of evidence.
Justice Amponsah was convinced by the claim by the AG and for that matter ruled that all the eight be discharged.
Leader of the Delta Force Saliu expressed his happiness.
“We have known right from day one that we were innocent. I think justice has been served.”
By William Evans Nkum|3news.com|Kumasi, Ghana