Nana Asante Bediatuo, one of the lawyers for the three South African ex-police officers who were arrested for allegedly training the security detail of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, has said the case concerning his client is not a national security issue.
The trio, Ahmed Shaik , Denver Dwahye, and Mlungiseli Jokani were picked up at the EL-Capitano Hotel in the central region, where they had been based since arriving in the country early this month.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Sk3hdA4om3o7WzH9jT1lDgZ9y17DGXjm”]The three were said to be training the security peronnel in various security drills, including unarmed combat, weapon handling, VIP protection techniques and rapid response manoeuvres.
Critics and particularly members of the incumbent NDC administration, have suggested the NPP imported mercenaries to train persons to cause trouble in the November elections.
However, the NPP has rubbished the claims that the three are a security threat and mercenaries sent into the country to disrupt the upcoming elections.
An Accra Circuit Court has since ruled that the three South Africans be granted bail to the tune of GHc 20,000, each with one surety.
Case will not go to trial
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, Lawyer Asante Bediatuo was of the view the facts of the case did not support the charge of conspiracy to commit crime.
He further intimated that he would be surprised if the case went to court because the charges brought on his clients did not hold water.
“I would be extremely surprised if this matter went to trial because the facts that were narrated in support of the charge were inconsistent with the charge itself.”
Lawyer Asante Bediatuo also explained that the case did not have any national security implications and that the charge of unlawful training brought before his clients only meant they were engaged in military style exercises.
“They’ve not been charged with anything remotely related to national security implications. They’ve been charged with unlawful training. Unlawful training under the law is when two or three or more people are engaged in military training and military exercises.”
He also argued that the police had not given any indication that the case had national security implications.
“That issue of national security, we need to put that aside. The police themselves have not made any claim that there were national security breaches or implications.”
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana