Court dismisses bail for man who killed two policemen

The Accra High Court has dismissed a bail application for the man accused of shooting two police officers on the Kasoa stretch in August 2019.

Eric Kojo Duah is believed to be the main suspect who engaged the police in a gun battle at Big Apple near Budumburam in the Central Region.

The dead officers were identified as Sergeant Michael Dzamasi, a service driver, and Lance Corporal Awal Mohammed.

Both were officers of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) attachment to the Kasoa Divisional Police.

On August 28, 2019, the officers received a tip-off concerning an unregistered vehicle.

The police signalled the occupants of the unregistered vehicle to stop, but the driver refused and sped off.

Sgt Dzamasi and Lance Corporal Awal gave the Toyota Camry saloon car a hot chase.

The cops were also using a Toyota Camry service car with registration number GP 3632.

In the course of the pursuit, the car stopped, and three suspects fired at the police, killing Sgt Dzamasi instantly with five shots to his head.

Lance Corporal Awal died later in hospital.

The occupants, who sped off later abandoned the unregistered vehicle at Krokrobite.

A search conducted showed a Ruger pistol with registration number 343-61265, bearing the name Eric Kojo Duah, leading to his arrest.

Bail application argument 

Counsel for the accused person Augustine Obour made an oral bail application. He reminded the court that his client had been in police custody since September 2019.

Also, he made the case that the accused person has family members ready and willing to stand as sureties for him, should he be granted bail.

Senior State Attorney Frances Mullen Ansah opposed the request for bail.

He said the bail application should have been made formally for the prosecution to respond appropriately, but that has not been done.

After listening to both sides, the court presided over by El-Freda Dankyi tossed out the application.

Eric Duah, who is the main suspect in the case, is being held on two counts of murder.

Three suspects – Ibrahim Zakaria, Isaac Amissah and Dominic Commey – were also arrested for the shooting.

The case has been adjourned to May 20, 2021.