Police on manhunt for Obinim’s accomplices

The prosecution team handling Bishop Daniel Obinim’s ongoing forgery trial has launched a search for three other accomplices who are currently on the run.

The identities of the three other accused persons is yet to be made known.

On Monday, when the case was called, the prosecutor Sergeant Richard Asamoah told the court that the prosecution intends to find the other accused persons.

He said two out of the three accomplices have been identified and will soon be brought before the court.

“We are working on getting the three other accused persons who are on the run and the defense is cooperating with us to do so.

“Once, we get them, we will take them through the right processes and put them before the court,” Sergeant Asamoah told the Kaneshie District court judge.

Adding his voice, Counsel for the founder of the International God’s Way Church, Charles Dela Blagogee indicated that the defense is indeed cooperating with the prosecution to locate the other accused persons.

The court presided over by Rosemond Dodua Agyiri subsequently adjourned the case to November 16, 2020.

Background

The founder of the International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim is currently facing new charges.

The televangelist, his accomplice Kwabena Otchere and four others are now facing four counts.

The group of six people are to answer to charges of conspiracy to publish false news, conspiracy to forge documents, the publication of false news and forgery of documents.

But the controversial pastor has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

At the last sitting, the police had asked for more time to investigate Bishop Obinim’s case. But Counsel for Obinim slammed the prosecution for employing ‘delay tactics’.

A not-too-happy counsel, Charles Dela Blagogee, made the critique while expressing his disappointment at the prosecution’s request for a longer adjourned date.

The lawyer said his hopes of scrutinising the prosecution’s evidence against his client had been dashed again because they have failed to present it.

“We can clearly see as practitioners of the law, what the prosecution is trying to do and where this matter is going. We are obliged to play along.

“But if on the next adjourned date, our colleagues from the other side fail to provide evidence that they are bringing to the case, then it won’t be fair to all parties.

“This is the third or fourth time, we are coming to the court on this matter but nothing to show for it,” Counsel for the accused stressed.

READ ALSO: State Prosecution Asks For More Time

Bishop Obinim was arrested on May 22, this year by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and charged for the publication of false news and forgery of a document, contrary to sections 208 and 159 of the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) respectively.

Obinim’s banter with the court has been going on for a while now. In 2018, he, together with two of his pastors, stood trial at the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly assaulting his adopted children in the presence of his congregation.

In September, that same year, he was subsequently fined a total of GH¢12,000 for the assault of his children.

Again, in August 2016, Obinim was arrested by the Tema Regional Police for allegedly defrauding a man of GH¢11.6 million.

Prior to his court appearance, the popular man of God in May 2020, spent three days in police custody before he was granted a GH₵100,000 bail with three sureties.