Journalist assault; Gyan wants out of court settlement

Baffour Gyan and Samuel Anim Addo, brother and personal manager of the Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, have been granted bail by a Kumasi circuit court after they were arraigned on Monday on charges of assault.

They were charged on two counts of assault of a regional correspondent of the Daily Graphic, Daniel Kenu at the Baba Yara stadium.

They pleaded not guilty and the court presided over by Mr William Boampong admitted them to bail in the sum of GHȻ30,000 with two sureties.

The case was adjourned to Friday September 12, 2014.

Graphic Online’s reporter, Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports from the court that even though the prosecution was ready to start the case, counsels for the accused persons, Augustus Anane Kweiba and Oheneba Kuffuor, pleaded with the court to adjourn the case as they seek for an out of court settlement.

They further pleaded with the court to admit their clients to bail since the offence committed was one that fell under the offences where bail could be granted

Mr Anane Kweiba said even though the offence was a bailable one, the discretion lied with the judge and as such “we plead with the court to temper justice with mercy and grant the accused bail.”

He told the court that his clients were ready for an out of court settlement and pleaded with the court not to start the hearing but instead adjourn the case.

He expressed hope that by the next hearing date, the parties involved would have reached an amicable settlement.

The prosecution led by Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Akonnor, objected to the bail and told the court that the accused persons committed the offence with others who were at large and granting them bail would jeopardise the investigations of the police.

However, the presiding judge upheld the bail application by the defense counsels.

In granting the accused persons bail, Mr Boampong said he took into consideration the merit of the prosecution claims and that of the defence and the fact that the police themselves had granted the accused persons police inquiry bail.

Supt Emmanuel Akonnor told the court that on September 5, this year, while the complainant Daniel Kenu was going through the process to acquire his media accreditation for the Ghana-Uganda match, the accused persons and others now at large, attacked him and subjected to him severe beatings.

He said it took the intervention of some Good Samaritans to rescue the complainant who later made a complaint to the police and was issued with a police medical form.

According to him , the accused were later arrested and in their caution statement to the police, they denied the charges.