OWUSU AND ANOTHER vs. THE REPUBLIC [1979]DLHC1096

Date	1979-07-23
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1979]DLHC1096

ANDOH J.

D. DWIRA FOR THE APPLICANTS.

AHLIJAH PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1979]DLHC1096
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OWUSU AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, SEKONDI]<o:p></o:p>[1978] GLR 460<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
23 JULY 1979<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

D. DWIRA FOR THE APPLICANTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

ANDOH J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ANDOH J.<o:p></o:p>The two
accused are farmers at Yakese and have been charged with the offence of
abetment of murder contrary to sections 20(1) and 46 of the Criminal Code, 1960
(Act 29). They were arrested on or about 23 May 1976 and they are still on
remand pending their trial at the High Court, Sekondi. They now apply for bail
and the question which arises is whether regardless of the provisions of
section 96 (7) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1960 (Act 30), as amended by
section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment)<o:p></o:p>Decree,
1975 (N.R.C.D. 309) this court has the power to grant them bail. Section 96 (7)
(a) provides:<o:p></o:p>“(7) A
court shall refuse to grant bail -<o:p></o:p>(a) in a
case of treason, subversion, murder, robbery, hijacking, piracy or escape from
lawful custody.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>At first
glance of the above provision, one may be tempted to say that the court is
ousted of jurisdiction in granting bail in the offences listed above but then
it is significant to note that the section does not say that the court shall
refuse bail when a person is charged with any of the offences. It rather says
that the court shall refuse bail in cases of treason, etc. The mentioning of a
“case” means or implies that it is only when on the summary of evidence, a case
of murder, treason, subversion, robbery, etc. could be said to have been
committed, that the court is mandatorily estopped from granting bail.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I think
it was not without reason that section 96 (7) (a) of Act 30 as amended by
section 2 of the N.R.C.D. 309 mentions a “case” instead of a “charge.”
Therefore, if from the summary of evidence, the court is of the view that a
case of treason, subversion or murder is not or cannot be made out, the court
will have the right to grant bail in appropriate cases even though a person is
charged with any of the offences mentioned.<o:p></o:p>In the
supporting affidavit of the applicants they averred:<o:p></o:p>“(1) that
we are the deponents herein. <o:p></o:p>(2) That
we were charged with abetment of murder contrary to section 20 (1) of the
Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29). <o:p></o:p>(3) That
we were arrested at Yakese on or about 23 May 1976 and have been in custody
since our arrest.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(4) That there is no prospect of our case
being heard in the very immediate future. <o:p></o:p>(5) That
our continued incarceration is having adverse effect on our health particularly
for Kofi Abokyi who needs special medical treatment on his eye. <o:p></o:p>