Accused In Coup Plot Case Remanded As High Court Rescinds Bail
The High Court in Accra has ordered the remand of Warrant Officer II Esther Saan Dekuwine, the sixth accused person in the ongoing coup plot case.
This was after the court revoked her bail over what it described as untrue representations and unconvinced conduct.
The court discovered that WOII Dekuwine’s claims of being admitted to the Police Hospital on June 6 were false.
She is the only female of the remaining nine persons currently on trial for high treason.
On June 13, the court instructed the registrar of the General Jurisdiction to verify a medical certificate submitted by the accused’s lawyers as evidence of her hospitalization.
The court noted that the certificate did not indicate whether she was admitted, prompting the need for verification.
In a report submitted to the court on Wednesday, the registrar stated that their inquiries at the hospital revealed that the accused had visited the facility on June 6 around 2 pm, after the eye clinic had already closed.
The report suggested that she was subsequently referred to the emergency department.
The lawyer representing Warrant Officer II, Esther Saan, did not contest the registrar’s report.
However, since the report did not confirm her admission to the hospital, the court determined that her representation was untrue and violated her bail conditions.
Based on the belief that her actions indicated a lack of willingness to make herself available for trial, the court decided to rescind her bail conditions.
As a result, she has been remanded in custody until further notice.
Background
Over a year ago, the high-ranking police officer, ACP Benjamin Agodzor, was charged with abetment to high treason.
Dr Frederick Yao Mac Palm (now deceased), a medical doctor, has been accused of being the plot’s mastermind.
The eight other accused persons are Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon.
The accused persons were earlier slapped with six separate charges, including treason felony contrary to section 23 (1) and 182 (b) of the Criminal and other offences Act, 1960.
Dr Mac-Palm, Dornyor Kafui, Allan Debrah Ofosu, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Cpl Akanpewon and Zikpi are on conspiracy charges to commit high treason and treason.
Dr Mac-Palm and Kafui have been separately charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse.
Col Gameli and ACP Dr Agordzo have been charged with abetment to high treason.
Alleged Coup Plot
In June 2018, security agencies arrested members of the ‘Take Action Ghana’ for an “elaborate plot targeted at the Presidency”.
As part of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm, Kafui, and Debrah planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff and force the President to announce his overthrow.
Dr Mac-Palm invited Kafui, a blacksmith at Alavanyo, to move to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for the group to further the plot.
Regarding ACP Dr Agordzo, he is said to have donated GH¢2,000 to TAG to aid its cause and drafted a speech for Dr Mac-Palm to be read at a planned demonstration by TAG.