Rev. Owusu Bempah granted GH¢200,000 bail
Three days into a one-week remand by an Accra Circuit Court, the General Overseer of the Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, tasted freedom yesterday when an Accra High Court granted him bail.
The High Court, presided over by Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame, admitted Rev. Owusu Bempah to bail in the sum of GH¢200,000, with two sureties.
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As part of the bail conditions, he must report himself to the police every Friday until the conclusion of his trial at the Circuit Court, where he has been accused of threatening to kill a former fetish priestess and now self-acclaimed evangelist, Patricia Oduro Koranteng, aka Nana Agradaa.
Four church members of his who are standing trial with him for allegedly beating policemen sent to arrest him after the alleged threats were also granted bail on the same conditions, except that their sureties must be justified.
Bail
The Accra High Court granted the five accused persons bail following an application by their lawyer, Mr Gary Nimako Marfo.
Counsel moved to the High Court to secure bail for his clients after the trial Circuit Court, presided over by Ms Afia Owusuaa Appiah, had refused his bail application and remanded the accused persons for one week.
It was the considered view of the trial court that the accused persons were arrested last Sunday and, therefore, it would be in the interest of justice for them to be remanded to give the police ample time to conduct investigations into the case.
The ruling by the Circuit Court was, however, overturned after the High Court upheld Mr Nimako’s arguments.
“It is hereby ordered that the applicants be admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢200,000, with two sureties each to be justified, except A1 (Owusu Bempah) with two sureties without justification,” Justice Tasiame ordered.
Mr Nimako had argued that Rev. Owusu Bempah was not well and had been in and out of hospital since the remand last Monday.
Counsel further argued that the accused persons were not flight risk, had competent people to stand surety for them and would always show up in court to defend themselves against the allegations.
“The applicants maintain their innocence and none is a flight risk,” he argued.
Mr Selasi Kuwornu, a Senior State Attorney, did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to attach conditions that would compel the accused persons to attend trial always.
Not guilty
Prosecutors have accused Rev. Owusu Bempah of storming Nana Agradaa’s house with 45 heavily built men (macho men) and threatening to kill her.
One of his associate pastors, Mensah Ofori, and another church member now at large are alleged to have threatened to kill Nana Agradaa, while Michael Boateng, Frederick Ohene and Nathaniel Agyekum, all members of the popular pastor’s security team, and other church members are alleged to have assaulted policemen who went to the church last Sunday to effect the arrest of their spiritual leader.
Rev. Owusu Bempah has pleaded not guilty to offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and threat of death, while the other accused persons have pleaded not guilty to offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, threat of death and assault of public officers.
Remand
Last Monday, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah and four of his church members were remanded by the Accra Circuit Court.
According to the court, the accused persons were arrested last Sunday and, therefore, it would be in the interest of justice for them to be remanded to give the police ample time to conduct investigations into the case.
“Accordingly, the application for bail is refused and the accused persons are remanded into police custody to reappear on September 20, 2021,” the trial judge had ruled.
Shortly after his remand, Rev. Owusu Bempah was taken to the Police Hospital for medical treatment after complaining of feeling unwell. He was subsequently treated and discharged by the hospital within two hours.
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- Read also:
- Rev Owusu Bempah refused bail over threats to kill Nana Agradaa
- Police arrest Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah
- Rev. Owusu Bempah rushed to Police hospital, 4 others ‘caged’
- GJA demands action against Owusu Bempah’s followers for attacking journalists
- Owusu Bempah's trial: Police eject journalists from courtroom, followers attack journalists
- Rev Owusu Bempah remanded in custody
More to follow...