The Takoradi Habour Circuit Court A presided over by His Worship, Michael Kwadwoe Ampadu, has adjourned the traffic offence case against the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, Abdul Mumin Issah, to 22nd March 2022.
This is to allow the prosecutor to file his disclosure and serve defence counsel to enable the case to take off.
The court’s decision follows Superintendent Emmanuel Basintale, the prosecutor’s failure to file the disclosures and serve the defence counsel as directed by the court earlier.
The lead counsel for the Mayor’s defence team, Samuel Agbota in response said there had been a one month interval since the case was adjourned.
Lawyer Agbota added that as the case is misdemeanour, the longer it takes, the longer it affects the human rights of the accused; hence prayed the court to ensure the prosecution files the disclosures and serves them before the next adjournment case.
Background
The Mayor was arrested earlier last month at a police check point at Kwesimintim allegedly for driving recklessly and abusing a police officer who questioned his action.
At his first court appearance, he was charged with assault of a public officer, Offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace and disturbing the peace in a public place.
Abdul Mumin Issah was subsequently granted bail to the tune of GHS100,000 with three sureties after he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The altercation between the MCE and a police officer, one Superintendent Andrew Sarfo near the Kwesimintsim Cemetery on the night of Thursday, February 3, 2022, was captured on tape and circulated on social media in which the government appointee was heard among other things threatening the police officer with a transfer.
He also described the officer as “ugly” and said he would have beaten him to death when the officer challenged him for driving on the shoulders of the road to move past a police snap check point.
The officer was heard challenging the MCE’s authority to disrespect and threaten him.
The Mayor was subsequently suspended by government for his conduct.