Mobilla caswe _ New revelations emerge

Saturday, March 20, 2010 (Page 3 Lead)

ONE of the prosecutors in the trial of the two soldiers who are in the dock for allegedly murdering the ex-Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Alhaji Issa Mobilla, yesterday told the Accra Fast Track High Court that new revelations bordering on the case had emerged.
A Chief State Attorney, Ms Penelope Ann Marmattah, therefore, prayed the court to give a short adjournment to enable “us put our house in order”.
According to her, the adjournment was needed to enable the prosecution to file the necessary papers.
She, however, did not disclose what those revelations were.
Ms Marmattah’s announcement and plea came almost two hours after the matter was scheduled to be heard.
Counsel for the soldiers, Mr Thaddeus Sory, said it was surprising for the prosecution to come up with those revelations after it had made the court to believe that two witnesses would be called yesterday.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, accordingly adjourned the matter to Monday, March 22, 2010.
Corporal Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and murder.
Their accomplice, Private Seth Goka, who is on the run, will be tried in absentia.
The court, on Thursday, granted a request by the prosecution to confine jurors in the case.
It, however, deferred the confinement to a later date after conferring with the prosecution, defence counsel and the registrar of the Fast Track High Court.
The registrar is expected to communicate the date on which the confinement will begin to the court.
A total of four witnesses have so far testified in the case which began full hearing on Wednesday, March 17, 2010.
The facts of the case are that Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.
While he was in custody, the police received information that his followers and sympathisers were mobilising to free him. The deceased was consequently transferred from police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks and handed over to the three accused persons.
According to the prosecution, Alhaji Mobilla died three hours after he had been handed over to the accused persons who were on duty that day.