Ghana court refuses bail for key Gbagbo ally
The Osu District Magistrate Court on Thursday turned down a bail application pending extradition filed on behalf of Justin Kone Katinan, a key ally of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo.
The court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh noted that the two-week arrest and detention of Katinan in Ghana did not constitute undue delay.
It however urged the state to expedite action on the extradition procedures by acquiring the needed documentation.
The court therefore adjourned the matter to September 13, declaring that it would not countenance any delay on the part of state or defense counsel.
Mr Patrick Sorgbodzor, counsel for Katinan, in his submissions for bail pending an appeal, told the Magistrate Court that his client was a refugee who had fled his country to Ghana for his safety.
Mr Sorgbodzor said his client has the necessary document covering his refugee status.
He lamented over the undue delay as his client had been detained for two weeks.
According to him considering the status of Katinan, he could be granted bail pending extradition.
Ms Merley Wood, A Chief State Attorney, prayed the court to decline Katinan bail stressing that he was wanted in Ivory Coast to stand trial in respect of various counts of robbery.
According Ms Wood, Ghana has received an International Arrest Warrant in respect of Katinan for offences he had committed in his country.
She said under the law, the court should decline bail when a person is to be extradited adding an argument put in by Katinan’s lawyer that there has been an undue delay was not true.
On Wednesday Sept 5, a Human Rights Court on terminated a writ of habeas corpus filed on behalf of Katinan.
A writ of habeas corpus order was filed by the ex-Ivorian Cabinet Minister’s counsel, Mr Patrick Sorgbodjor, asking the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to produce him in court to justify his detention.
The BNI therefore produced Katinan in court on August 31, this year.
The court presided over by Mr Kofi Essel Mensah after listening to arguments from the state and defence counsel ruled that it would not like to prejudge, pre-empt and truncate the action as the state had given good reasons for the arrest and detention of Katinan.
Government in a brief information indicated that President John Mahama was seeking advice from the Attorney General on a request for his extradition to face prosecution for war crimes committed during Ivory Coast’s recent post-election violence.
Source: GNA