Ghana court grants Gbagbo ally bail

A magistrate’s court in Osu, Accra, on Tuesday granted GH¢50,000 bail with two sureties to Justin Kone Katinan, an ally of former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo.

The court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh ordered Katinan to report to the Bureau of National Investigations every fortnight until otherwise directed.

The court said the status of Katinan, as an asylum seeker, should be maintained.

The court said it considered challenges the prosecution was going through as well as the submissions of defence counsel in granting the bail to Katinan, who was apprehended in late August, following a request by the Ivorian authorities to the Ghana government, on alleged charges of robbery.

The court noted that there was the likelihood that the extradition process would delay and the liberty of the accused person was at stake.

According to the court it granted Katinan bail on the assumption that accused person was presume innocent until it was proven otherwise, and the fact that he was an asylum seeker.

It noted that justice would be best served if accused was granted bail as he was already traumatized by his current status as an asylum seeker.

The ruling came after Ms Merley Wood, a Chief State Attorney, had told the court that the State Attorney still going through documents that were delivered by the Ivorian authorities.

Mr Patrick Sorgbodzor, counsel for Katinan, repeated his application for bail, and said his client was ready to meet all bail requirements.

Counsel said there was no indication that the process of extradition was going to be begin any time soon.

Mr Sorgbodzor also requested for the documents from the Ivorian authorities and said the ruling of the court was fair.

Relatives of Katinan, who could not hide their excitement, hugged and greeted each other at the court premises.

The Ghana government said in a statement following the arrest of Katinan that it was considering an extradition request by authorities of Cote d’Ivoire.

Katinan served as former President Gbagbo’s budget minister during the conflict in Cote d’Ivoire.

He is accused of allegedly leading some men to rob some banks and financial institutions in his country.

The case has been adjourned to October 11.

Source: GNA