Soussouddis
Court Acquits Soussoudis
The Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday acquitted and discharged Michael Soussoudis, a businessman of two counts of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition without lawful authority.Soussoudis’s acquittal followed the court’s upholding of the submission of ‘no case’ filed on his behalf by his counsel after the close of the prosecution’s case.The court, presided over by Mr Justice G.A.Ayeetey, held that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused.Rather, it said, the prosecution proved the innocence of the accused and, therefore, he could not be called upon to open his defence.After the ruling by the court in the morning, the case had to be adjourned to 1 pm for the seven-member jury to enter a verdict on the accused.That was because two of the jurors were not present at the time.When sitting resumed, the judge told the jurors that he had given his ruling and sought their opinion to enter a verdict of not guilty for the accused.At 1.15 pm, the judge, after the declaration by the jurors that the accused was not guilty proclaimed that “the submission of no case has been upheld and the court, therefore, acquits and discharges you”.Soussoudis was accused of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition without lawful authority. He denied the charges and was admitted to bail.The prosecution had earlier told the court that a team of police officers, acting upon a tip-off, searched Soussoudis's residence in April 2001 for firearms.A quantity of arms and explosives were found in the boys' quarters (outhouse) and also in the main house.But after the close of its case, Soussoudis’s counsel submitted a written submission of no case to the court, which was considered to have been read.Its details were not made available to the press since any publication would have prejudiced the jurors.However, its thrust was that the accused should be discharged because the prosecution could not link him to the charges preferred against him.According to the court, evidence adduced before it by the prosecution witnesses showed ample excuse that Soussoudis could carry the weapons which he had in his possession at the time of seizure.It said the accused had a permit which had not expired that authorised him to carry weapons to carry out his duties but the law did not require him to specify his duties.The court further held that it was not the case of the prosecution that the accused had altered documents on the weapons and that even if he had been found to have forged the documents, the court could not have called him to open his defence, since he was not charged for that.Story By Stephen Sah
Source:Graphic
Court Acquits Soussoudis
The Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday acquitted and discharged Michael Soussoudis, a businessman of two counts of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition without lawful authority.Soussoudis’s acquittal followed the court’s upholding of the submission of ‘no case’ filed on his behalf by his counsel after the close of the prosecution’s case.The court, presided over by Mr Justice G.A.Ayeetey, held that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused.Rather, it said, the prosecution proved the innocence of the accused and, therefore, he could not be called upon to open his defence.After the ruling by the court in the morning, the case had to be adjourned to 1 pm for the seven-member jury to enter a verdict on the accused.That was because two of the jurors were not present at the time.When sitting resumed, the judge told the jurors that he had given his ruling and sought their opinion to enter a verdict of not guilty for the accused.At 1.15 pm, the judge, after the declaration by the jurors that the accused was not guilty proclaimed that “the submission of no case has been upheld and the court, therefore, acquits and discharges you”.Soussoudis was accused of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition without lawful authority. He denied the charges and was admitted to bail.The prosecution had earlier told the court that a team of police officers, acting upon a tip-off, searched Soussoudis's residence in April 2001 for firearms.A quantity of arms and explosives were found in the boys' quarters (outhouse) and also in the main house.But after the close of its case, Soussoudis’s counsel submitted a written submission of no case to the court, which was considered to have been read.Its details were not made available to the press since any publication would have prejudiced the jurors.However, its thrust was that the accused should be discharged because the prosecution could not link him to the charges preferred against him.According to the court, evidence adduced before it by the prosecution witnesses showed ample excuse that Soussoudis could carry the weapons which he had in his possession at the time of seizure.It said the accused had a permit which had not expired that authorised him to carry weapons to carry out his duties but the law did not require him to specify his duties.The court further held that it was not the case of the prosecution that the accused had altered documents on the weapons and that even if he had been found to have forged the documents, the court could not have called him to open his defence, since he was not charged for that.Story By Stephen Sah
Source:Graphic
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