The Bibiani circuit court has adjourned to October 14 a case in which Nana Yaw Gyebi II, Omanhene of the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional Area, and 15 others are facing criminal charges for threat of death, causing unlawful damage and forcible release of a suspect from lawful custody.
This followed a petition by Nana Kwasi Donkor, the complainant, that the prosecutor, Detective Police Chief Inspector Alex Asamoah, should be stopped from handling the case.
The conduct of the police prosecutor, he alleged, was unhelpful in ensuring a fair trial and that he had every reason to believe that he would exhibit biases during the trial.
The petition was addressed to the Western Regional State Attorney and copied the Regional Police Commander and the Registrar of the Bibiani Circuit Court.
The petitioner stated among other things that immediately the case docket was sent to the Bibiani police for prosecution Police Chief Inspector Asamoah invited him (Nana Donkor) and told him to impress upon Richmond Ackah, whose property was destroyed, to agree on an out of court settlement since Nana Gyebi, the first accused, was an important personality.
He said the conduct of the police officer ever since had shown he was doing everything within his means to get the case struck out for want of prosecution.
He said Chief Inspector Asamoah had even failed to invite witnesses including Assistant Superintendent of Police Gyawu, the then District Police Commander, he the complainant and other police personnel from whose custody Nana Gyebi and his group forcibly freed the suspect.
On the eve of New Year 2004, the Bibiani police received information that a group of people led by Nana Gyebi II and armed with guns and other offensive weapons were demolishing a block of seven stores at Degede, a suburb of Bibiani.
The project had reached the lintel and was being developed by one Richmond Ackah.
When the police got there they found that the block had been pulled down and they arrested one of the suspects but Nana Gyebi led the other group members to free him.
They have all pleaded not guilty and are on GH�6,000 bail each with a surety to be justified.
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