By: Barbara Kumah
Circuit Court in Accra has remanded a 55 year old New Patriotic Party supporter into police custody for allegedly assaulting a Journalist with Joy News Latif Iddrisu during a protest at the premises of the Economic and Organized Crime Office in Accra. The accused Theophilus Kpakpo Thompson has been charged with Assault and Threat of Death.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The facts of the case as narrated by the prosecution, states at about 7mp on May a group of individuals, including some NPP MPs and supporters of the party organised a demonstration in front of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, EOCO, in Accra, to protest the detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The Prosecutor Chief Inspector Olivia Ofori Atta, narrated that during the protest, Latif Iddrisu, who was covering the event for JoyNews, a private media company, was confronted and assaulted by some protesters. She said following investigations, the accused person was arrested at James Town in Accra, on Saturday June 7, at about 5pm by the Regional Police Command to assist with investigations.
The Prosecutor told the court that efforts are underway to identify and arrest other suspects involved in the incident. Enoch Afoakwah, lawyer for Mr. Kpako Thompson prayed the court to admit him to bail under reasonable terms.
The prosecution however opposed to the plea for bail. Chief Inspector Ofori Atta told the court that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other suspects and urged the court to remand Theophilus Thompson to avoid any interference in to further investigations.
The Prosecutor further assured the court of an expedited trial.
The judge, Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah after considering the submissions held that he was not inclined to grant bail to Theophilus Kpako Thompson.
He ordered the prosecution to file disclosures within ten days and adjourned to June 18 for Case Management Conference.
Some New Patriotic Party, NPP, executives, including its National Organizer Henry Nana Boakye and the National Youth Organizer, Salam Mustapha were in court in to show support to their party member.
